A Short History of England (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

Setting out to pen a popular history book “from the standpoint of a member of the public,” Chesterton more than achieved his goal. Moving cohesively through England’s history, Chesterton uses broad strokes but not without his characteristic wit and style. While trounced by some critics, George Bernard Shaw praised the book and pronounced Chesterton “the most concise and the fullest historian” ever produced by England.