Just found this blog written by the historian John L. Hancock, called Liberty Inherited. Lots of interesting stuff, particularly on the links between English and American thought. Here is a posting on the Second Amendment that causes frissons of horror in so many people on this side of the Pond who obviously do not know that the right to bear arms first appeared in the Declaration of Rights in 1689, a document that needs a little more attention than it usually gets.
Born on May 29, 1874, he lived through turbulent times (sometimes making them even more turbulent) and died on June 14, 1936, realizing before his death that the casual and often unpleasant anti-Semitism that he indulged in was leading to something far more horrific in Europe.
He has inspired at least two societies, one English and one American, both concentrating on the Catholicism of his writing, something he would have approved of. Looking at all the different sites that deal with the different aspects of Chesterton's life and writings I have found myself being drawn back to his mysteries, a word he used in its many different meanings but, particularly, in connection with detective stories. Elizabeth Foxwell on The Bunburyist links to several of his essays on the subject.
To all those who are in or near London at around lunchtime on Friday, here is a reminder of an event in Parliament in connection with Spencer Perceval's assassination 200 years ago.
An anonymous comment on the posting added:
There is a commemorative service at St. Luke's Church, Charlton Village on Sat 12th May.
He was connected to Charlton and is laid to rest in the vault.It is good to know that Mr Perceval is being remembered.
