"All of this generation has grown up under Chesterton's influence so completely that we do not even know when we are thinking Chesterton" - Alfred Knox, at Chesterton's funeral
 
Born in 1874, Chesterton's early career was in publishing and journalism, he went on to write the 'Father Brown' series of detective novels and became a successful radio broadcaster for the BBC. He wrote poetry throughout his life and was described by James Parker as a "post-Victorian gasbag and pneumatic cultural presence...cracking jokes like thunder". He died in 1936 of heart failure.
 
Chesterton published over 4000 poems, short stories, books and newspaper articles in his lifetime; this Pocket Book contains 13 poems including The House of Christmas, The Secret People and A Cider Song.
 
Unfortuntely, the binding staples have rusted and affected the centre page (see the 3rd image in the gallery); the remainder of the publication is undamaged.