British writer GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON (1874-1936) expounded prolifically about his wide-ranging philosophies. A man of strong opinions, with a humorous style that earned him the title of the "prince of paradox," he is impossible to categorize as "liberal" or "conservative": he was a literary critic, historian, playwright, novelist, columnist, and poet. His thousands of essays and 80 books remain among the most beloved in the English language.