Manalive

A whirlwind of a man named Innocent Smith bursts into a dull London boarding house, and his outrageous behavior—apparently including burglary, desertion, and attempted murder—turns out on trial to be a joyful, topsy-turvy defense of life, marriage, and wonder. Chesterton spins a delightful comic fable arguing that we should love our own homes and spouses as if newly discovered. Bursting with paradox, high spirits, and philosophical mischief, Manalive is a celebration of gratitude and the sacredness of ordinary things. Whimsical and life-affirming, it captures Chesterton’s central conviction that the world is a marvel we have grown too jaded to see.