A book by G. K. Chesterton detailing a popular theme both in his
own philosophy, and in Christianity, of the 'holy fool', such as in
Dostoevsky's The Idiot and Cervantes' Don Quixote. This is a book
in two parts. The first, "The Enigma of Innocent Smith," concerns
the arrival of a new tenant at Beacon House, a London boarding
establishment. Like Mary Poppins, this man (who is tentatively
identified by lodger Arthur Inglewood as an ex-schoolmate named
Innocent Smith) is accompanied by a great wind, and he breathes new
life into the household with his games and antics. During his first
day in residence the eccentric Smith creates the High Court of
Beacon; arranges to elope with Mary Gray, paid companion to heiress
Rosamund Hunt; inspires Inglewood to declare his love for Diana
Duke, the landlady's daughter; and prompts a reconciliation between
jaded journalist Michael Moon and Rosamund. However, when the
household is at its happiest two doctors appear with awful news:
Smith is wanted on charges of burglary, desertion of a spouse,
polygamy, and attempted murder. The fact that Smith almost
immediately fires several shots from a revolver at Inglewood's
friend Dr. Herbert Warner seems to confirm the worst. Before Smith
can be taken to a jail or an asylum, Michael Moon declares that the
case falls under the purview of the High Court of Beacon and
suggests that the household investigate the matter before involving
the authorities or the press. The second part, "The Explanations of
Innocent Smith," follows the trial. The prosecution consists of
Moses Gould, a merrily cynical Jew who lives at Beacon House and
considers Smith at best a fool and at worst a scoundrel, and Dr.
Cyrus Pym, an American criminal specialist called in by Dr. Warner;
Michael Moon and Arthur Inglewood act for the defense. The evidence
consists of correspondence from people who witnessed or
participated in the exploits that led to the charges against Smith.
In every case, the defendant is revealed to be, as his first name
states, innocent. He fires bullets near people to make them value
life; the house he breaks into is his own; he travels around the
world only to return with renewed appreciation for his house and
family; and the women he absconded with are actually his wife Mary,
posing as a spinster under different aliases so they may repeatedly
re-enact their courtship. Smith is, needless to say, acquitted on
all charges. Movie adaptation Dale Ahlquist (president of the
American Chesterton Society and host of the EWTN series, G.K.
Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense) is the executive producer
of a motion picture version of Manalive. In 2006 he teamed up with
screenwriter/producer/director, Joey Odendahl. They eventually
formed Moonhunt Productions, and Manalive is to be their first
feature. It will star Mark Shea as Innocent Smith and Kevin O'Brian
as Professor Eames. As of 2009, the movie has completed filming and
is in the post-production phase. (Wikipedia)
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