<br>Ian Ker has taught both English literature and theology in universities in the United States and Britain, where he currently teaches in the Oxford theology faculty. He is the author and editor of more than twenty books on Newman, including John Henry Newman: A Biography (1988), as well as the author of The Catholic Revival in English Literature, 1845-1961 (2003).<br>
`This is a brilliant biography for a brilliant man.' Times Higher Education `full of colossal wit, wisdom, and common sense...that is this magnificent book' Catholic Times `superb...absorbing' Piers Paul Read, Standpoint `this is a full-length scholarly biography that will be indispensable for decades' Church Times `rewarding biography' Tribune `Ian Ker provides an account of the thought of Chesterton that surpasses, in its comprehensiveness, anything that has been previously written about him' Bernard Manzo, Times Literary Supplement `Heroically researched...an impressive...book...that conveys a powerful sense of [Chesterton's] personality' DJ Taylor, The Independent `handles a complex subject with admirable lucidity. Mastering Chesterton's output is a heroic feat in itself' Peter Washington, Literary Review `reveals valuable new information' The Times `Ian Ker's magisterial new biography of Chesterton ... wil now do for Chesterton what his definitive biography of Newman did for him .. a major literary achievement ... Nobody who has any interest in Chesterton can afford to be without Ian Ker's book' Catholic Herald `Ian Ker's tremendous biography is an incitement to read Chesterton afresh ... [it] confirms him as a great thinker' The Tablet `This masterly biography...has the potential to help establish Chesterton in what Ker regards as his rightful place as a major English author.' Independent on Sunday `magisterial' Matthew D'Ancona, Sunday Telegraph `a brilliant ... towering biography' Gary Day, Times Higher Educational Supplement `Chesterton finally gets the big book he deserves ... a monumental study' National Catholic Register `[a] masterful biography' America `[this] terrific new biography of Chesterton ... gives us a portrait of the man in full' National Review Online `a discriminating portrait that does welcome justice to the full richness of [Chesterton's] hitherto undervalued work ... the need for a proper critical biography has long been acknowledged and Ker has supplied it ... for any true understanding of the scope of ... Chesterton's achievement ... Ker's biography will be indispensible' Weekly Standard `[this] biography ... will help make the case that Chesterton is bigger than the keepers of culture have allowed' National Review `spirited and ... enjoyable' The Atlantic `magisterial ... a splendid book' Touchstone `detailed and compelling' Chronicle of Higher Education `... comprehensive biolography ...' The Lutheran `magnificent' Irish Catholic