Project Gutenberg 2006-01-01 Public domain in the USA. 773 Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith) 1874 1936 Chesterton, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Gilbert K. (Gilbert Keith) Alarms and Discursions Produced by Georges Allaire, Martin Ward, and David Widger "Alarms and Discursions" by G. K. Chesterton is a collection of essays and reflections written during the early 20th century. This work encapsulates Chesterton's wit and unique perspective on a wide array of subjects, ranging from art and society to personal musings, often interspersed with humor and philosophical insight. The pieces explore the complexities of contemporary life, examining how the ordinary and the grotesque intertwine, while also critiquing the modern world's detachment from the romantic and the ideal. The opening portion of the book begins with a contemplative piece titled "On Gargoyles," where the author reflects upon a gargoyle he finds near a disused abbey, invoking thoughts about art and its evolution from ancient to modern times. He delves into a parable about a priest and his people who, after a period of despair, learn to embrace all aspects of creation—both the beautiful and the grotesque. This allegory sets up a central theme of the collection: the acceptance of imperfection and chaos in life as necessary components of beauty, contrasting with the rigid ideals of modernism. The subsequent essays introduce satirical reflections on society, identity, and the complexity of human experience, signaling Chesterton's deep-seated belief in the power of imagination against the backdrop of rationalism. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 66.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en English essays PR Text Category: Humour Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches 347328 2025-08-04T09:38:30.115207 text/html 350803 2021-01-26T16:56:23 text/html 208101 2025-08-04T09:38:37.120178 application/epub+zip 212414 2025-08-04T09:38:33.205173 application/epub+zip 195259 2025-08-04T09:38:32.034193 application/epub+zip 407308 2025-08-04T09:38:40.348146 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 376407 2025-08-04T09:38:36.382187 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 330520 2022-09-05T05:01:02.144207 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 304353 2025-08-04T09:38:29.707222 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 304231 2018-03-09T12:01:54 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 302823 2009-06-16T03:23:18 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 20183 2025-08-04T09:38:40.492127 application/rdf+xml 15882 2025-08-04T09:38:32.549185 image/jpeg 4250 2025-08-04T09:38:32.289177 image/jpeg 120562 2018-03-18T11:42:58 application/octet-stream application/zip 125165 2021-01-26T16:56:23 application/octet-stream application/zip 120323 2016-01-02T10:42:44 application/octet-stream application/zip 204413 2025-08-04T09:38:30.143209 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia