Orthodoxy, as G. K. Chesterton employs the term here, means "right opinion." In this, the masterpiece of his brilliant literary career, he applies the concept of correct reasoning to his acceptance of Christianity. Written in a down-to-earth and familiar style, he presents formal and scholarly arguments in the explanation and defense of the tenets underlying his faith.

Paradox and contradiction, Chesterton maintains, do not constitute barriers to belief; imagination and intuition are as relevant to the processes of thought and understanding as logic and rationality. "Whenever we feel there is something odd in Christian theology," he observes, "we shall generally find that there is something odd in the truth." He defines his insights with thought-provoking analogies, personal anecdotes, and engaging humor, making this century-old book a work of enduring charm and persuasion.