Favorite Father Brown Stories (Dover Thrift Editions) by G. K. Chesterton

Father Brown

by G.K. Chesterton

Six well-plotted and suspenseful tales by the noted British critic, author and debunker extraordinaire feature the "little cleric from Essex" in "The Blue Cross," "The Sins of Prince Saradine," "The Sign of the Broken Sword," "The Man in the Passage," "The Perishing of the Pendragons" and "The Salad of Colonel Cray."

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, School, Literature, British Literature

Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic.

He was educated at St. Paul’s, and went to art school at University College London. In 1900, he was asked to contribute a few magazine articles on art criticism, and went on to become one of the most prolific writers of all time. He wrote a hundred books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some two hundred short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. In spite of his literary accomplishments, he considered himself primarily a journalist. He wrote over 4000 newspaper essays, including 30 years worth of weekly columns for the Illustrated London News, and 13 years of weekly columns for the Daily News. He also edited his own newspaper, G.K.’s Weekly.

Chesterton was equally at ease with literary and social criticism, history, politics, economics, philosophy, and theology.

Reviews

[Laura Verret · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Father Brown was made of two men. There was a man of action, who was as modest as a primrose and as punctual as a clock; who went his small round of duties and never dreamed of altering it. There was also a man of reflection, who was much simpler but much stronger, who could not easily be stopped; whose thought was always (in the only intelligent sense of the words) free thought. He could not help, even unconsciously, asking himself all the questions that there were to be asked, and answering as many of them as he could; all that went on like his breathing or circulation."

There's a reason why I consider Chesterton one of the more talented authors to ever brandish a pen and his detective, Father Brown, one of the cleverest crime solvers of the twentieth century - it is evidenced in the above paragraph which singly represents the eccentric vitality with which the writer invested the sleuth. Part performer, part priest, Father Brown is a Titan in his field and an all around blast for readers to accompany in his uncanny solutions of crimes.

Find him. Read him. Love him.

[LeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chesterton's Father Brown character is a Catholic priest who has a deep appreciation of human nature and an uncanny ability to unravel puzzles related to its worst sins, all while remaining unflappable. This edition by Dover includes six stories from different collections, so there is a bit of disconnect when the villain in the first becomes Father Brown's companion and friend in the second.(Presumably this is explain in another story that's not included in the collection.)

The Father Brown stories aren't mysteries, at least not in the form that modern readers are used to (and since I don't generally read mysteries, I base this on a vague understanding of the genre rather than experience). For instance, the point of view of the stories is a very limited omniscient that occasionally descends into Father Brown's head. In this way, Chesterton leaves all the discovery to Father Brown as well as all the explanation. Only at the end of each story do we even know what the crime is, but we finish it satisfied that Father Brown was never stumped by each odd, perplexing situation.

Perhaps it's his Victorian roots, but Chesterton has a deft way with atmosphere in these stories. Without ever introducing trolls or magic, he nevertheless transports his reader into strange worlds hidden in plain sight, leaving an eerie, shivery sense that the reader has brushed up against evil. It's no wonder that Neil Gaiman quotes him in his prescript to his novel Coraline. Short, rather dumpy Father Brown never fails to bring the reader through these worlds and out to safety.

[Abigail H · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Miss Marple and Poirot were combined along with a few cups of humor, we would get Father Brown.. These short stories are the perfect rainy day read!

[♡• Ellie •♡]

Eh.

They were okay, I guess.... A collection of 6 twentysome page stories... They were giving Sherlock Holmes in the best, so it wasn't all bad. Had to read this for school; it otherwise never would have crossed my mind to even look at it :D

Dnf around the 4th story, doesn't get a rating since I couldn't get a feel for it.

If you're interested in oldfashioned (short) British mysteries you'd probably like this one!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever stories; very clever writing. Chesterton's wit and descriptive prose make these lovely short mysteries so enjoyable.

[Lewis Szymanski · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are nothing like the BBC television series. Reasonably interesting, but old-fashioned in style and content.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent series of detective stories that, judging by the timing of their writing and the content of their narratives, offer a response of sorts to the hyper-rationalistic hero of the late 19th century, Sherlock Holmes. Where Holmes relies purely on facts and careful observation, Chesterton's Father Brown comes to the truth a little more intuitively. In fact, he often seems little more than a passive observer to the events that take place in front of him, though his cleverness and wit offer more than enough engaging material for the reader. Chesterton also does an excellent job of varying the narrative approach, so that each story doesn't simply feel like another in a series, but rather seems to stand on its own. These stories remind me a lot of Dorothy Sayer's mysteries featuring Lord Peter Wimsey, with Chesterton's entry being a bit more theoloigcally and philosophically oriented, not to mention quite humorous.

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I mean that we here are on the wrong side of the tapestry," answered Father Brown. "The things that happen here do not seem to mean anything; they mean something somewhere else."
My favorite quote from the book. It is from The Sins of Prince Saradine.

[AnnaRose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very different type of detective, humble Father Brown, solves cases and unveils dark secrets. These stories are short and enjoyable. However, some of the cases are not solved as much as understood. Justice does not seem to come which makes the endings a bit odd.

[Rachel HK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not like short stories. I never have. I always feel that by the time I get into them, they are over. So imagine my surprise as I read these with my junior highers for school and was bowled over with shock at my delight! Father Brown is a true gem, and I want to put him in my pocket and keep him for always. The man, not the book. He’s that lovable. These stories are absolutely lovely, take about 15-20 minutes a piece to read, and they are clever, satisfying, and beautifully written.

Add to your must reads.

[Emma Grace Blumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chesterton’s descriptions of landscapes and his employment of the colors present in his scenes really serve to draw the reader into the stories. Some of the language he uses is archaic now, as well as some offensive stereotypes included that shouldn’t be excused away based on the date of publication.

The musings on depravity and the themes of anyone being capable of crime and deception hold up though. And Father Brown is just plain endearing as a character!

[Whitney Kroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like each story ended too abruptly, without a thorough conclusion. Enjoyed the show much better!

[Lucy Hewlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ngl I only paid attention to like two of the stories lol, but I think I liked "The Man In The Passage" the best, it was eerie and creepy but really well done and held my attention lol.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been on a "kick" reading mystery stories written during the first two decades of the 20th century. G.K. Chesterton is remembered as a writer for many things, not the least of which is his series of tales featuring the Priest Sleuth Father Brown.

Brown is a keen observer of human nature, thanks to his vocation as a priest. This keen observation, and great empathy, equip him to understand people's motivations for crimes. In a couple of these tales, the good father is able to stop an attempt on someone else's life because he is able to recognize a murderous plot when others see muddle or superstition.

Brown is an engaging character, but these aren't "detective" stories in the sense that Brown doesn't solve any crimes. He is sometimes present when a crime occurs, or, as I have mentioned, is often able to foil the crime. But, as detective fiction, these don't stand up as well. Some of them are engaging studies into the human condition, and the idea of the priest sleuth is a lot of fun.

It's certainly not fair to compare Chesterton to his exact contemporary, Conan Doyle, or to compare Father Brown to Sherlock Holmes. And yet it's a natural comparison, not only because of the time both men wrote in but because dust jackets trying to sell Chesterton's work invoke the comparison. It's not a comparison that does the author, or Father Brown, much credit.

In an interesting side note, though, a Father Brown story features prominently in one of my favorite novels, Brideshead Revisited. The name of Book Two, "A Twitch Upon the Thread," is a line from one of Chesterton's stories featuring Brown. I hadn't realized where it came from, or that it was a detective story; before I'd read this, I thought that the phrase came from a book of theology. Hmmm.

I'll probably read some more, just because I'm on this old detective fiction kick (this is much better than, say, the Circular Stair, which I wrote about a month or two ago. But to like these you need to be hard core devotee of old detective fiction.

[Iris]

I loved these stories! G. K. Chesterton is an excellent writer, and I had no idea until this book that he wrote fiction (but I'm so glad I found out!) The character of Father Brown can't help but make you smile and the other characters are so developed and seem so alive. These stories are lively, creative, deep, and sometimes a bit confusing :) I highly recommend!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"... G. K. Chesterton delighted in probing the ambiguities of Christian theology. A number of his most successful attempts at combining first-rate fiction with acute social observation appear in this original selection from his best detective stories featuring the priest-sleuth Father Brown.

"A Chesteronian version of Sherlock Holmes, this little cleric from Essex -- with 'a face as round and dull as a Norfolk dumpling' and 'eyes as empty as the North Sea' -- appears in six suspenseful, well-plotted tales: 'The Blue Cross', 'The Sins of Prince Saradine,' 'The Sign of the Broken Sword,' 'The Man in the Passage, 'The Perishing of the Pendragons,' and 'The Salad of Colonel Cray.'

An essential item in any mystery collection, these delightful works offer a particular treat for lovers of vintage detective stories, and will engage any reader.'
~~back cover

Well, they didn't engage this reader. The language was erudite and often quite verbose, the plots convoluted and somewhat unbelievable. I had to force myself to finish the book; after all, how hard could 89 pages be? Harder than I wanted them to be, certainly!

[Reg Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy these a lot. Perfect for subway rides because they are short and they are also full of clever observations on human moral/intellectual behavior. Behavior the good Father Brown can decipher pretty quick. It's always about applying understanding a persons character toward the completion of the investigation into a crime. If Sherlock Holmes has a specialty its the various types of ash from cigar smoke, whereas Brown's specialty is people. Both are excellent trackers though.

[Judine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the concept of this diminutive priest who solves mysteries in ingenious ways, but I'd like more of a set-up. I think I would have preferred one of the original books so I could follow the adventures in chronological order. This "best of" compilation leaves me with a lot of unanswered questions, like how was Flambeau turned from a villain to Father Brown's sidekick?

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/11/13
Clever little stories, but some are not ones the reader might be able to solve with the clues given, for Father Brown knows things the reader often does not and he does not divulge them until the end. Chesterton spends a good deal of time on scenery and personal characteristics, bringing the place and people to life.

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's something about reading a book with such a good use of the English language. Wow! On the other hand I found Father Brown's adventures rather boring and without much explanation as to how he came to such epiphanies in just three pages.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected, but still entertaining. Father Brown isn't so much a detective as just extrememly observant.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Father Brown is one of the great detectives and thoroughly non-violent.

[Lucien Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First there is what everybody knows; then there is what I know. Now, what everybody knows is short and plain enough. It is also entirely wrong.

WOOOF! As someone who loved The Man Who Was Thursday (shoutout Jimmy T's Book Club), I'd been eager for some time to dive into Chesterton's more overtly "mystery" work, as I felt that book sustained such great intrigue and pulled off some pretty sick twists, aside from being beautiful and that. Going in, little old me was expecting like British Encyclopedia Brown with a Christian tilt. Solving the mystery along with the protag type beat. Thankfully, I was dead wrong. Father Brown is a detective who you go on walks with through dark hollows. Father Brown is a detective who gets cranky when he's been on a canoe for too long. His character is remarkably consistent, and has Sherlock (BBC) levels of knowledge so that most of the stories end up being him explaining the mystery to you (or a side character named Billingsby or something). Plenty is explored here: vanity, malleable truths, family "curses", jealousy, divine knowledge, and, of course, the unbeatable experience of going on a lazy boat ride with your buddies. If anyone out there feels like they've tired of reading the same Borges over and over, this should be your next read. Iz good.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Chesterton, and while the first three Father Brown stories in this collection are wonderful, the last stories in the book date the text to a more narrow minded period. The final few stories include People of Color, but they are present only to subvert a British stereotype about the group. These characters don’t exist as figures in their own right but as red herrings to mislead the prejudiced English reader. To give Chesterton the benefit of the doubt it may be due to the short form of each story that he cannot spend time to develop characters outside his main cast. However, the result is that stories involving POC are two dimensional, and have the protagonist engage with stock images of the British imagination, clues to solve a puzzle, rather than compelling figures adding to the plot. Even the most anti-PC reader of this text, and as this is Chesterton I imagine there are many, must admit the author handles these characters in such a heavy handed way it spoils the while mystery by giving away the direction.

This being said, The Sign of the Broken Sword has to be one of my favorite mysteries I have encountered, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys of the genre.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Father Brown "mysteries" are a very strange phenomenon, not surprising given that Chesterton was such an eccentric writer. Take the Sign of the Broken Sword, where Brown simply narrates to Flambeau what happened as they slog through a Norwegian night (the action all taking place in Brazil, of course). Even in the stories that more closely approximate a mystery, like the Perishing of the Pendragons, there is this long peculiar buildup of mundane details and then a burst of insight, often (as in that case) varied by wacky action [and almost inevitably some odd gratuitous turn of the 20th century racist stereotyping], and I usually am left with the sense that I've been somewhat conned...there's no way that made sense...

Damn, but they are colorful, though.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting scenarios involving crimes but mostly focused on human nature. Father Brown, an unassuming priest, is the perfect humble foil for the people around him driven by passion, greed, etc. The oddest part of this book was the frequent mention of people's "yellow" faces. It kept coming up, as Dickens often refers to individuals' physiognomies. I tend to associate "yellow" with sallow illness, but here it was people hailing from foreign countries. As I write this, I am thinking of "red and yellow, black and white; all are precious in His sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world." Funny how terms like this fall out of favor and stick out like a sore thumb in older literature. :)

[Asher Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this planning to compare it to the Agatha Christie books I've been reading, but the writing styles are so different that it would be both difficult and unfair to do so. I do sorta wish I'd read at least one of Christie's short story collections so I'd have something similar to judge length-wise.

The mysteries all seemed very easy to solve, but I don't know if that was a product of their length or not. Some of them were barely even mysteries.

Incidentally, I think Poirot would enjoy Father Brown's company. Not sure about vice versa.

Well, back to Rhythm of War!

[Addison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for school, and I wanted to enjoy it. I love mysteries, and this was a compilation of mini mysteries. But despite the appeal, I struggled through it. I’ll be the first to admit that my misfortune with this book was probably influenced by my reading slump. However, the language (the verbiage, the way they talk, not expletives) was hard to follow. I found myself zoning out and not following the plot. However, the two stories I did follow made sense and were entertaining. Overall a 3 star read. I’ll probably reread this in the future when I’m not in a slump.

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this show and figured I'd check out a sampling of the mysteries. They good and I liked them. I think what struck me the most was how innocent they were. I'm pretty sure the average mystery now involves a serial killer, the FBI, and at least 4 dead bodies. In this work, some of the mysteries didn't have any murder at all! lt was surprising to see, and kinda depressing to think of how far we've come in 100 years.

[Sieglinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains six of the early Father Brown mysteries and they are well written, featuring a protagonist with greater psychological awareness than would have been typical of many characters of the time. However, the reader should also remind themselves that they were written over a century ago. So not only are some words either no longer in common usage or are used quite differently today, but some of the stories express cultural attitudes/references that would not be acceptable now.