The Ball and the Cross [Paperback]

G. K. Chesterton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 1995

Chesterton's second novel chronicles a hot dispute between two Scotsmen, a Roman Catholic, and an atheist, whose fanatically held opinions inspire a host of comic adventures. The story's allegorical levels vigorously explore the debate between theism and atheism. Introduction by Martin Gardner.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

G K Chesterton has been described as one of the most unjustly neglected writers of our time. Born in 1874, he became a journalist and later began writing books and pamphlets. His work includes novels, literary and social criticism, political papers and spiritual essays in a style characterised by enormous wit, paradox, humility and wonder.

He converted to Catholicism in 1922 and he explores the nature of spirituality in many of his books and essays, including the mighty Orthodoxy.

Chesterton is one of the few authors who are genuinely timeless and whose work has as much relevance today as when it was written. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (November 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486288056
• ISBN-13: 978-0486288055
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #708,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The battle between Christianity and atheism, December 10, 2000

By 

Guillaume (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ball and the Cross (Paperback)

As a Catholic I had heard of this little story for years, but only got around to buying it last night. I read it in one sitting. This is a story of two Scots -- one a staunch Roman Catholic, the other a militant atheist. The Catholic is enraged by the blasphemous display in the latter's shop windows and an vicious row ensues. They are both hauled away by the police. But it does not stop there. They agree to fight a duel. But where? Each time they think they have found a perfect spot, they are interrupted. Eventually, after some further adventures, they realise that they -- the one who actively accepts the existence of God and the other who actively denies it -- have more in common with each other than with the mass of self-satisfied humanity who could not care less if He exists or not. This is a brilliant story, and a perfect allegory of our sad times.

77 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faster, Higher, Cooler, October 24, 2002

By 

Gord Wilson "alivingdog.com" (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Ball and the Cross (Paperback)

So many people wrote great reviews of GKC's best-known books here that I'll concentrate on this one. It happens to be my favorite novel by him, but I was quite surprised that this nearly unknown book would be so good. My suggestion is don't read Martin Gardner's foreword first--read it as a backword, after the book, and then see if you agree.

Chesterton later wrote a little poem about how he didn't like this book, and how it didn't make any sense, but I found it to be the clearest thing I've ever read, and it has forever instilled lucid pictures in my brain. It starts with a scene that seems to be some sort of dizzying science-fiction story from Victorian England--sort of like something Jules Verne would write if he suddenly became a better writer.

That's not the only unforgettable visual image in this book, which is pieced together like so many cliff-hanger serials. Someone else will likely write about all the debates over points of view implicit in the title and fiercely held by the characters, but what attracts me is the excitement of a wildly heroic life (which both characters live). GK shows, of course, that it's found in the romance of orthodoxy, but by the time the book winds up, he has me panting like a thirsty hart to find those cooling streams.

Another novel that does this is Manalive!, which a friend of mine said is her second favorite book, next to C.S.Lewis' Perelandra. Manalive! is very light, but it just flies, and opens with the most intriguing first page I've ever read. Both these stories, although written in different ways, seem modern or even post-modern. They seem like they were translated into modern English from another language, even though they both date from the early 20th Century.

Recently, I had the chance to see the world premiere of a play of The Man Who Was Thursday, which put these three novels into perspective for me. Chesterton wrote at a time when anarchist dynamiters --the terrorists of their day--were causing havoc about London. Many social conditions were chaotic and in the world of ideas, things were up for grabs.

Chesterton did not have an easy conversion, nor did he come by his views without a hard-won struggle. In this sense, he didn't arrive at the "right" answer by working a puzzle or stumbling on the secret to life, but like his story about a man who walked around the world, came back with a new perspective, able to see things in a new way for the first time. Although I did come to embrace his romantic orthodoxy, I don't think his big gift is in convincing us of the wisdom of the Creed, but rather in opening our eyes to the wonder around us.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GKC is a big fat Genius, July 28, 1998

By 

Clark Massey - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ball and the Cross (Paperback)

Chesterton's hilarious story of how an adamant Catholic duels to the death with an ardent atheist is a worthy read. Chesterton systematically critiques popular delusions of educated thinking as the book unfolds. Chesterton's wit is second to none and if you liked Pilgrim's Regress by C.S. Lewis, you will love this book.