This was one of the most inspiring, life-changing books I've read in recent memory. Heartfelt, bold, and dreamy; Chesterton is the Capra of the 19th century.

Tally-HO!!

4.5

Marvelously appropriate.

Sometimes we need a little madness just to know we're alive. That's the basic message of "Manalive," a delightfully strange mystery (of sorts), in which G.K. Chesterton demonstrates just why life is worth living -- and that a bit of craziness can be extremely beneficial. It's one of Chesterton's fluffier books, but it's also enchanting in its complicated, wacky way.

A wind blows a new tenant into the dreary Beacon House -- Innocent Smith, an exuberant, eccentric and sweet-natured man who seems to be nuts. But he's at least the fun kind of nuts. In the days that follow, Smith has a positive effect on the house -- he creates his own court, brings a few couples together, and falls in love with a paid companion next door. All seems to be well with the world.

Then the unexpected happens: Smith shoots at one of the tenants, and two doctors arrive to arrest him, claiming that he's a bigamist, an attempted murderer, and a thief. But cynical writer Moon insists that the case be tried there -- and they explore Smith's past history, revealing startling truths about what he does. Is he the wickedest man in Britain, or is he "blameless as a buttercup?"

You gotta love "Holy Fool" books, although Chesterton's take on it is sunnier than Dostoyevsky's or Cervantes'. Instead, "Manalive" focuses on a childlike, optimistic man who is far cleverer than anyone suspects, because he knows the value of living life, and how to keep it from ever getting dull -- he contrives scenarios that give him the thrill of the illicit, without actually committing crimes or sins.

The first half of the book is a bit predictable, but Chesterton throws an unprecedented twist into the plotline by having the "allegorical practical joker" turn out to be a fugitive. Then, it's half legal battle, half philosophical argument, in which which Chesterton points out the beauty of living life, and how nothing makes us appreciate it more than the nearness of death. "With our weak spirits we should grow old in eternity if we were not kept young by death. Providence has to cut immortality into lengths for us," Smith explains.

But since this is by Chesterton, it's full of hilarious dialogue ("In the matter of his being a flamingo, my client reserves his defence"), and lushly detailed writing, where something as small as a man standing in a moonlit garden is given an ethereal eerieness.

And Innocent Smith is a bit of an enigma -- charismatic, innocent, weird, eccentric and lovable. Yet how can he have committed these crimes, and still live up to his name? He's surrounded by a bunch of people who have fallen into dullness or cynicism -- Irish reporters, timid doctors, heiresses -- but who show signs of the "sanity" as they spend time around him.

"Manalive" is a twisty, hilarious tale where nothing is as it seems -- but Chesterton also throws in some philosophical points about how great it is to live your life, and appreciate it. Definitely a good read.

Re-read in 2017
The first time I read this book, it took me several weeks. I struggled with the writing style and characters. As this was my pick for my book club this month, I prepped for a long, heavy read...
Only to fly through it in a little over an hour. How different this book reads when you know where it is going and that it is worth getting there!
This book is so powerful. I can't wait to lead a discussion on it.

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2013 Review
Finished this one a while ago but haven't marked it as read. Incredibly good. Totally recommend, a must read at least once in your life. Challenges and yet readable and fun.

A quick read-through to get the gist. Now that I know where he's going, I need to read again.(not an easy read) My summary quote would be, "His principle can be quite simply stated: he refuses to die while he is still alive." Why do we sometimes live like all there is is death?

First Chesterton I've read.
Recommended to me by Amy.

This is a good novel/parable/almost romance.

Mr. Smith comes to Beacon Hill and in whirlwind fashion changes the lives of those at living there. And then the Doctors show up with charges of bigamy, theft, dessertion, and murder.

The trial is quite interesting and I loved the themes of enjoy life to the fullest.

Phenomenal.