Book Presentation: 'An Earthly Story with a Heavenly Meaning--Father Ian Boyd's Essays on G.K. Chesterton'

The G.K. Chesterton Institute for Faith and Culture is pleased to announce a special event to present its new publication An Earthly Story with a Heavenly Meaning--Father Ian Boyd’s Essays on G.K. Chesterton (CLUNY: Providence, RI, 2025). The book is a collection of essays on Chesterton by the internationally renowned scholar, Father Ian Boyd, founder of the Institute, edited and introduced by Professor Dermot Quinn, and includes a preface by Patrick Manning, Ph.D. This collection honors the life-long work of Father Boyd to promote the thought and writings of G.K. Chesterton, and the 50th anniversary of the Chesterton Institute and its journal, The Chesterton Review. The Chesterton Institute is grateful to Seton Hall University for their support of this project.

Details for the event:
3-6 p.m., January 26
University Center Event Lounge

Professor Quinn remarks: “For nearly half a century, Father Ian Boyd was a commanding presence in the world of Chesterton scholarship. Founder and long-time editor of The Chesterton Review, he wrote with compelling authority not only on Chesterton and his circle but also on the tradition of sacramental writing that they represent. In these deeply scholarly yet also graceful essays, wide-ranging and incisive, we hear yet again the voice of a much-loved and widely admired priest and professor.”

The publisher adds: “The world needed to hear from Chesterton, and for half a century Ian Boyd made sure it did. An Earthly Story with a Heavenly Meaning enshrines that legacy and ensures its continued happy effects.” – CLUNY

An Earthly Story with a Heavenly Meaning
Father Ian Boyd’s Essays on G.K. Chesterton
CLUNY: Providence, RI, 2025
ISBN: 978-1685954529

About Father Ian Boyd
Father Ian Boyd (1935–2024) was a Canadian priest of the Congregation of Saint Basil. For many years he was professor of english at St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan; from 1999–2018 he was a member of the Department of English at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, lecturing extensively on the subject of Sacramental Themes in Modern Literature. An internationally recognized G. K. Chesterton scholar, Father Boyd was the author of The Novels of G. K. Chesterton (1975) as well as the founder and president of the G. K. Chesterton Institute for Faith and Culture, and the editor of The Chesterton Review (1974–2020), both based at Seton Hall University.

About the G.K. Chesterton Institute
For a half-century, the G. K. Chesterton Institute for Faith and Culture based at Seton Hall University, has worked to promote the thought G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) and his circle and, more broadly, has explored the application of Chestertonian ideas in the contemporary world. The Institute’s work consists of conferences, lecture series, research and writing. Chesterton was a multifaceted figure, and so is our work. He was one of the most versatile writers of his day and his ability to write on serious matters in a style accessible to the ordinary reader, made him one of the most beloved figures in the twentieth century. His thought has particular importance for those who value the sacramental tradition and Catholic social teaching and Christian spirituality. His works have been translated into many languages and because his writings are increasingly the subject of study by students and scholars, they continue to reach new generations of readers. In the words of our founder, Father Ian Boyd: "The Chesterton Institute has had a key role in the Chesterton revival around the world—he is being rediscovered and introduced to new generations. Our work, through our programs and projects, and our highly praised journal, The Chesterton Review is present in a larger world beyond our home—our outreach is global."

Categories: Faith and Service