G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was a man of diverse talents; he was an artist, poet, dramatist, novelist, philosopher, biographer, literary and art critic, and Christian apologist, but above all, he was a journalist. After attending the Slade School of Art, he began writing book reviews and then weekly columns for various papers. Such opinions as his opposition to the Boer War in 1899 attracted attention. He soon published several volumes of verse, and in 1901 he married Frances Blogg. His output continued to expand with such works as Heretics, biographical studies on Browning and Dickens, and such works of fiction as: The Napoleon of Notting Hill and The Club of Queer Trades. However, despite the varied interests, he continued to spend much of his time on journalism. In 1905 he began writing a weekly column for The Illustrated London News and continued this column until his death. At the same time he was involved in editing a series of journals: The Eye-Witness (1911-1914), The New Witness (1914-1923), and G. K.'s Weekly (1925-1936). In 1922 he converted to Catholicism, which, because of his theological, spiritual, and conservative bent, almost seemed inevitable. His circle of friends included: George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, Hillaire Belloc, and Max Beerbohm.

With regard to Chesterton's most important and most popular works, readers disposed toward his philosophic and theological side often cite Orthodoxy and The Everlasting Man. With regard to biographical studies, some critics have credited Chesterton's work on Dickens as the book that heralded a scholarly appreciation of the 19th-century English author. Much of Chesterton's verse is occasional and topical; however, the British poet Humbert Wolfe believed that Chesterton's poetry would outlive his prose. With regard to fiction, The Man Who Was Thursday is often regarded as his best novel; however, the detective priest, Father Brown, who is at the center of five books of short stories, is his best-loved character.

Of added interest is Chesterton's association with the University of Notre Dame. While at the height of his fame in the fall of 1930, he came to the university as a visiting professor of English literature. He taught two courses of eighteen lectures each in Washington Hall, one on Victorian literature and one on Victorian political history. During his time at Notre Dame Chesterton fully embraced the life of the campus, even attending a football game; the team that year won the national championship in what was to be Knute Rockne's final season. The football game inspired Chesterton to write the poem "The Arena," which he dedicated to Notre Dame.