The Ball and the Cross By GK Chesterton Illustrated GK Chesterton Books
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About The Ball and the Cross by G.K. Chesterton
The Ball and the Cross is a novel by G. K. Chesterton. The title refers to a more worldly and rationalist worldview, represented by a ball or sphere, and the cross representing Christianity. The first chapters of the book were serialized from 1905 to 1906 with the completed work published in 1909. The novel's beginning involves debates about rationalism and religion between a Professor Lucifer and a monk named Michael. A part of this section was quoted in Pope John Paul I's Illustrissimi letter to G. K. Chesterton. Much of the rest of the book concerns the dueling, figurative and somewhat more literal, of a Jacobite Catholic named Maclan and an atheist Socialist named Turnbull. Lynette Hunter has argued that the novel is more sympathetic to Maclan, but does indicate Maclan is also presented as in some ways too extreme. Turnbull, as well, is presented in a sympathetic light both duelists are ready to fight for and die for their antagonistic opinions and, in doing so, develop a certain partnership that evolves into a friendship. The real antagonist is the world outside, which desperately tries to prevent from happening a duel over "mere religion".The Ball and the Cross By GK Chesterton Illustrated GK Chesterton Books
Wow! What can I say. This allegorical tale takes you to so many places and on so many different levels. You really need to read every word carefully to fully understand the true meanings of this tale. I did have a somewhat difficult time because I am not an analytical person, but I did understand a lot about what was going on. We start out with Professor Lucifer and Bother Michael in a flying ship. The Professor drops Brother Michael off (literally) at the Ball and Cross of St. Paul's Cathedral dome. We hear no more about them until the end of the story. We are then introduced to Evan MacIan, a very strict Roman Catholic, and Turnball, an atheist and journalist. Mr. Turnball writes something derogatory about our Blessed Mother and MacIan challenges Turnball to a duel. They set the time and place, but every time they set a time and place, fate intervenes and they have to reschedule. They are both very gentlemanly and talk a lot, in fact they go on and on and on and on! There are also a lot of comical episodes because of the ridiculousness of the conversations and situations that these two protagonist get into. This is a very long story but really worth your while. And it makes you think..Product details
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The Ball and the Cross By GK Chesterton Illustrated GK Chesterton Books Reviews
It has been said that those who debated Chesterton also loved him. One could simply not be angry with this likeable and brilliant man. So naturally his book about a duel between a Christian and an atheist has them becoming friends, only Chesterton was far more agreeable than his Christian duelist. I expected more apologetics in the debating, but our two heroes are too busy bumbling from one misadventure to another to find much time to argue. I got the impression that, like C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce, this story was just an elaborate dream...possibly a nightmare. It certainly seems like one, especially when things happen that seem highly unlikely and non-coincidental. Yet at the end no one "wakes up" though the atheist finally wonders if it is all a dream (a hint?). I wonder if Chesterton is saying more about society than whether faith is valid. I have not read any literary criticism on this book, but I'd like to know what scholars make of it. I found it more interesting than The Napoleon of Notting Hill and The Man Who Was Thursday, which are more popular novels. Fans of Chesterton won't be disappointed.
Two guys with opposing beliefs , one a staunch Christian and the other an atheist commit to a duel. But because it is against the law they are being chased by the police. On the run they meet various people and because of this their beliefs are further explored and their friendship grows. The storyline is ok almost like the way of the pilgrim but in a more modern romp. There are many thoughtful comments made by Chesterton that stick with you.
G. K. Chesterton's _The Ball and the Cross_ (1910) was his second novel. [His first was _The Napoleon of Notting Hill_ (1904)]. While it was not published in book form until after his masterpiece, _The Man Who Was Thursday_ (1908), the magazine serial preceeded _Thursday_ (_Commonwealth_ 1905-1906). So _The Ball and the Cross_ must be considered the earlier novel.
In later years, Chesterton expressed a dissatisfaction with the novel. In the flyleaf of a copy owned by Father John O'Connor (the original of Father Brown), Chesterton inscribed a poem that read in part
This is a book I do not like,
Take it away to Heckmondwike,
...
The speeches jerk, the chapters sprawl
The story makes no sense at all.
Now, it is true that the novel is not without faults. But it is a novel written during Chesterton's most creative period. It is not without its virtues as well.
There are two noteworthy faults of the novel. The first is Chesterton's satire of science-- in particular, his dismissal of evolution. Chesterton had little knowledge of either science in general or evolution in particular. We may take chesterton's scientific satire to be verbally witty but essentially nonsensical.
The second fault is the final chapter of the novel, an apocalyptic ending in which everything goes up in flames, the atheist is converted to Christianity at the last moment,, and the City of God comes to Earth. Now this may have seemed to Chesterton (and a few conservative Catholics) like the Cat's Meow of a light comedy ending. But an ending in which all the characters ( and everybody else in the world) has been fried by eternal fire left me a bit less than cheery. And Chesterton's chipper assurance that it was all okie-dokie because God saved everybody's soul somehow failed to elicit the proper comic spirit in me.
However, before this rather apalling ending, Chesterton actually presents a rather decent novel.
November 1, 2016
A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the Book "The Ball and the Cross" by G.K. Chesterton
I purchased this (free) book in format from . I have heard a lot about Chesterton and his religious/philosophical views and was curious about his writing style. This book, The Ball and the Cross is an allegorical story showing the conflicts between good and evil and uses the relationship that develop a philosophical distain for one another's beliefs or lack thereof. The believer challenges the disbeliever to a dual using swords. The story is comedic and reminiscent of Cervantes Don Quixote. It sets out a series of humorist adventures which follow in a consequential sequence. I believe it sets out a struggle for the author and as a consequence demonstrates his belief system. I liked the book but it was a challenge to read to keep up with the whimsy of the author and somewhat circuitous in his overall conclusion. I gave the book three stars, primarily because it was interesting but lacking in a flow that appealed to me.
Wow! What can I say. This allegorical tale takes you to so many places and on so many different levels. You really need to read every word carefully to fully understand the true meanings of this tale. I did have a somewhat difficult time because I am not an analytical person, but I did understand a lot about what was going on. We start out with Professor Lucifer and Bother Michael in a flying ship. The Professor drops Brother Michael off (literally) at the Ball and Cross of St. Paul's Cathedral dome. We hear no more about them until the end of the story. We are then introduced to Evan MacIan, a very strict Roman Catholic, and Turnball, an atheist and journalist. Mr. Turnball writes something derogatory about our Blessed Mother and MacIan challenges Turnball to a duel. They set the time and place, but every time they set a time and place, fate intervenes and they have to reschedule. They are both very gentlemanly and talk a lot, in fact they go on and on and on and on! There are also a lot of comical episodes because of the ridiculousness of the conversations and situations that these two protagonist get into. This is a very long story but really worth your while. And it makes you think..
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