A Lesson in Whitewashing: The Anti-Semitism of A.K. Chesterton’s The New Unhappy Lords

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4 Responses

  1. Paul says:

    I should point out that the main picture above does not show A.K. Chesterton, but is in fact his second cousin, the writer G.K. Chesterton. The oversight made here may reflect other shortcomings in this review.
    I’m not sure where Mr. Banyan, who seems an otherwise careful writer, gets the evidence to back up his confidence that “six million” Jews died the “Holocaust”. Banyan is not a World War Two or Holocaust scholar, so he may be forgiven for the use of such tired claims which are not backed up by real evidence (as distinct from propaganda). However, the comments on Chesterton’s book (which Banyan dismisses as a “screed” or a “rant” full to the brim with the author’s “undisguised prejudices”) show that Banyan is not beyond giving in to his own undisguised prejudices when emotions take over. It appears he cannot see past his emotions to engage with Chesterton as an author or objectively evaluate his text (admittedly, not an easy task). Chesterton was exceedingly well-placed to make certain informed judgements on international politics, and his book is very soberly written, not a “rant”. His views on Africa are unpopular but resemble reality (and he knew more about Africa than most palefaces). Banyan would get a hint of this if he was not in such a hurry to heap ordure on such a controversial figure. Banyan has cherry-picked the chapters on subjects he has some knowledge of (and begrudgingly admits their value) and consigns the rest to the trash heap. But we’re interested in truth, are we not? Well, the intellectual journey towards the truth about things can lead us to some dark corners. We have to face that. It’s not all sweetness and light.

  2. Will B. says:

    And you are deliberately missing the point that Baron’s attempt to defend Chesterton from the charge of anti-Semitism is wrong-headed and at variance with the facts. You might call it cherry-picking, but I am merely highlighting the numerous instances where Chesterton engages in anti-Semitic smears.

  3. Yuri says:

    A. K. Chesterton and G. K. Chesterton are different persons… Please change the picture.

  4. Mali says:

    Putting G.K. Chesterton’s image over text about whitewashing of his second cousin’s antisemitism and not removing it for years amounts to defamation by negligance.

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