Manalive

This comic novel encapsulates everything about Chesterton that appealed to Borges. It's hilariously funny and surreal, with the author's animus against pomposity in full force. Needless to say, the prose is excellent.

Chesterton claimed that "the normal was abnormal," that modern life forced people

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into paradoxical situations. For example, we are able to experience the glory of the highest pride and the awe of the meekest humility at the same time. Chesterton saw this as a manifestation of Original Sin and that a return to innocence was only possible for holy fools, such as this novel's central character.

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