The Complete Father Brown [Paperback]

G. K. Chesterton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2006

Includes The Innocence of Father Brown and The Wisdom of Father Brown. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 414 pages
• Publisher: Waking Lion Press (August 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600964443
• ISBN-13: 978-1600964442
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,398,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely, Father, February 25, 2007

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Father Brown (Paperback)

When we first see Father Brown, he's a clumsy, sweet little priest who drops his umbrella, and prattles to his fellow passengers.

But G.K. Chesterton soon reminds readers that appearances are deceptive, when this unassuming little Catholic priest turns out to be a master sleuth. "The Complete Father Brown" collects the first two books featuring Father Brown, and introducing readers to his unusual way of solving bizarre crimes.

The first story opens with French detective Valentin on the hunt for the great thief Flambeau, and along the way encounters a little priest who is telling people about his "silver with blue stones." Turns out that the little priest is the target of Flambeau's crime, and the priceless sapphire cross he's carrying is about to be stolen -- but Valentin discovers that Father Brown is a lot cleverer than he seems.

In the many mysteries that follow, Brown is called on to solve many mysteries -- strange beheadings, burning towers, an invisible murderer, a Christmas crime, voodoo cults, impossible blackmail, the mysterious "Mr. Glass," a lie-detector that can't overcome the faulty human, a murdered actress, murders that may be suicides, religious bigotry, and even a death curse that may be coming true.

G.K. Chesterton had a wonderful knack for creating mysteries that were actually quite simple, but seemed complicated. Sometimes, they even seemed impossible. But in each story -- most of which are standalone -- Father Brown successfully unravels the case, and shows us the startlingly simple answers.

These short stories are written casualyl and a little bit humorously (Brown outpicking a pickpocket), but Chesterton builts up a wall of bizarre clus that don't make sense until Father Brown reveals the motives. And the final touch is an exquisite, shimmering writing style ("Over the black pine-wood came flying and flashing in the moon, a naked sword"), rich in atmosphere.

Father Brown is a likable little guy, who seems very flaky and innocent at first. But under the "innocent goblin" face, he has a shrewd knowledge of human nature, rock-solid principles and some very unusual skills. And don't worry, the religious aspect is rarely brought up, such as when a murder was caused by religious bigotry -- most of the time, Father Brown merely lives his principles rather than preaching them.

"The Complete Father Brown Volume 1" is an enjoyable collection of the first two Father Brown books, and will leave mystery lovers reaching for Volume 2.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Detective Outside of His Box, February 6, 2012

By 

Acute Observer (N. Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Father Brown (Paperback)

The Complete Father Brown, by G. K. Chesterton

The `Preface' by Auberon Waugh tells about Chesterton's personality and habits. GKC had sympathy of the people and against the rich rulers (p.viii). His `Father Brown' stories were popular on both sides of the Atlantic (p.x). Chesterton was known for his love of paradoxes, "truth standing on its head to get attention". The `Foreword' by R.T. Bond tells how Chesterton invented the character of Father Brown after a discussion with a curate, who told him about practices unimaginable to Chesterton. Later he heard college students wonder what a curate could know about real life. Chesterton's detective would be ordinary appearing, even dull, individual. Yet he would figure out a mystery that seemingly wiser men could not fathom. Instead of analyzing clues, Father Brown tried to get inside the mind of the murderer to determine his motive and identity. [Today we would call that profiling.]

This book contains the five volumes of the Father Brown stories. `The Innocence of Father Brown' and `The Wisdom of Father Brown' both contain twelve stories. `The Incredulity of Father Brown' has eight stories. `The Secret of Father Brown' has ten stories. `The Scandal of Father Brown' has nine stories. These stories are always entertaining and amusing, even if some details are now as extinct as a horse and buggy, or may seem improbable.

1 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT PRODUCT...BUT, February 8, 2008

By 

J. Mercia (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Father Brown (Paperback)

EXCELLENT PRODUCT. HALF WAY THROUGH BOOK 1 I REALIZE THIS AUTHOR IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA!