What is the author's tone in The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton?

The Everlasting Man is unquestionably argumentative in nature: Chesterton is disputing the claims of modern scholars which denigrate both man and the Catholic Church. Chesterton's tone, however, is modest and likely not so optimistic as to think his work would have much of an effect on the scholars themselves, who, in all likelihood, are already fairly committed to their views. Instead, he targets those educated men, who are influenced by their ideas and are, perhaps, torn between their attachment to Christianity on the one hand and, on the other, keeping up with modern intellectual movements.