The Ball and the Cross - Softcover

Chesterton, Gilbert Keith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1908388358 ISBN 13: 9781908388353

Publisher: Aziloth Books, 2011

Synopsis

In some dystopic future, a confirmed atheist and an avid catholic find each other's beliefs so intolerable they agree to fight a duel - a violent combat that their hectoring discussions on everything from politics to theology seems always to defer. Along the way the two passionate protagonists meet a variety of weird and fantastic characters that, for any number of dubious reasons, seek either to aid or hinder the duelists. This is one of G K Chesterton's finest novels, full of wit and insight, and packed to the gunnels with farce and poetry. 'The Ball and the Cross' defies ordinary literary classification, but might best be described as an allegorical Sci-Fi fantasy, with much thoughtful - and thought-provoking - comment on the nature of political and religious conflicts.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Like much of G. K. Chesterton's fiction, The Ball and the Cross is both witty and profound, cloaking serious religious and philosophical inquiry in sparkling humor and whimsy. Serialized in the British publication The Commonwealth in 1905-06, Chesterton's second novel first appeared in book form in America in 1909, delighting and challenging readers with its heady mixture of fantasy, farce, and theology.
The plot of The Ball and the Cross chronicles a hot dispute between two Scotsmen, one a devout but naive Roman Catholic, the other a zealous but naive atheist. Their fanatically held opinions leading to a duel that is proposed but never fought inspire a host of comic adventures whose allegorical levels vigorously explore the debate between theism and atheism.
Martin Gardner's superb introduction to The Ball and the Cross reveals the real-life debate between Chesterton and a famous atheist that provided inspiration for the story, and it explores some of the novel's possible allegorical meanings. Appraising the book's many intriguing philosophical qualities, Mr. Gardner alerts readers as well to the pleasures of its "colorful style . . . amusing puns and clever paradoxes . . . and the humor and melodrama of its crazy plot."
Unabridged Dover (1995) republication of the work originally published in 1909-1910. New Introduction by Martin Gardner.
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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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Aziloth Books
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1908388358
• ISBN 13: 9781908388353
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168