Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a prolific writer who wrote in such a variety of genres that he resists simple classification. Previous Dictionary of Literary Biography volumes have examined Chesterton as a poet, a dramatist, a traditional novelist, a mystery writer, an essayist, and a biographer. Because of these complexities Chesterton scholars and biographers offer such broad and inclusive descriptions as journalist, mystic artist, or critic to convey the essence of Chesterton. He is best known as a true man of letters whose greatness lies not merely in his mastery of a variety of forms but in his ability to apply these forms to a common theme and purpose--social change. He was also influential as a critic and writer of fantasy.
Fantasy may not be an obvious choice as an instrument of social change; in fact, fantasy is sometimes viewed with mistrust. In Chesterton's day fantasy was not a well-defined genre. It was instead considered part of the Romantic tradition that included gothic stories, nonsense verse, and fairy tales.
