Who is Gilbert Keith Chesterton from The Road to Wigan Pier and what is their importance?

Gilbert Keith ("G.K.") Chesterton (1874 - 1936) was an influential English writer with a broad viewpoint. His opinions were often considered paradoxical in that they were not easily pigeonholed into a standard political ideology. Chesterton's writing was accessible and held popular appeal. In addition, it was generally based in a Christian milieu Chesterton's influence was near its pinnacle during the 1930s, and hence Orwell responds to many Chestertonian ideas within the text. Orwell refers to Chesteron's ideology in Chapters 2, 4, 8, and 11, generally in disparaging terms.