Manalive

G. K. Chesterton's Manalive is a philosophical comedy and mystery story about the eccentric Mr. Innocent Smith, whose arrival at a London boarding house upends the residents' dull lives and leads to his trial for a host of serious crimes. Smith is accused of wild crimes, including burglary, polygamy, and attempted murder.The household convenes its own 'High Court of Beacon' to determine his guilt, leading to a comical and insightful trial. Through clever wit and paradox, the novel explores profound themes of joy, sanity, and the true nature of being alive, ultimately asking: can a man break every social convention yet still keep the commandments?