undemanding genre fiction
Writers of "undemanding genre fiction" are rarely nominated to Nobel Prize in Literature (as Chesterton was in 1935) or considered by critics to be successors of Matthew Arnold, John Ruskin or Thomas Carlyle.
He was held in high regard by, and was an influence on, many writers (including Jorge Louis Borges and T.S. Eliot) and philosophers (e.g. one of the "immortals" of Académie Française, Étienne Gilson). Also - let's not forget - Chesterton was invested as Knight Commander with Star of the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius XI. Not bad for "quite a good writer of undemanding genre fiction". :)
For me personally, his
Heretics,
Orthodoxy and
The Everlasting Man are among the most important books that shaped my worldview.
However, I can understand perfectly well why
you don't like him, Jon.
the great Janusz Korczak
Hmm... yes, the Good Doctor should certainly be included in this thread (and will be, soon).