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The Complete Father Brown Volume 1
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.
468 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2009
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53 people want to read
About the author
G.K. Chesterton
4,643 books5,750 followersGilbert 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 2, 2020
What kind of person would enjoy a book like this? What kind of reader is this book aimed at? Well, this volume (and a second one) is published by an imprint called Boomer Books that appears to be making books that are easy to read for people who are nearsighted and who have an interest in reading a lengthy collection of short stories written by G.K. Chesterton. Now, while I have never appreciated being labeled as a Boomer, this volume was definitely something that I appreciated reading and it was certainly a good and enjoyable volume to read as far as it goes, and a quick and enjoyable read of mystery stories with Christian themes is something that a great many people can appreciate. Not everyone is going to like these stories--some of the stories are wildly improbable, and filled with fantasy elements, and those with a low tolerance for the Catholic worldview are going to have a low tolerance for the author's viewpoints. As the book goes on one can see the author attempting to broaden his focus so as to let the reader not see the same sort of thing happening over and over again.
This particular book is about 400 pages long and contains no annotations and the complete stories for the first two Father Brown books. This includes the following stories from The Innocence Of Father Brown: "The Blue Cross," "The Secret Garden," "The Queer Feet," "The Flying Stairs," "The Invisible Man," "The Honour Of Israel Gow," "The Wrong Shape," "The Sins Of Prince Sardine," "The Hammer Of God," "The Eye Of Apollo," "The Sign Of The Broken Sword," and "The Three Tools Of Death." It also includes the following stories from The Wisdom Of Father Brown: "The Absence Of Mr. Glass," "The Paradise Of Thieves," "The Duel Of Dr. Hirsch," "The Man In The Passage," "The Mistake Of The Machine," "The Head Of Caesar," "The Purple Wig," "The Perishing Of The Pendragons," "The God Of The Gongs," "The Salad Of Colonel Cray," "The Strange Crime Of John Boulnois," and "The Fairy Tale Of Father Brown." In many of these stories we see the expansion of Father Brown's area of traveling--he is not nearly as settled as a "Father" should be, but that might be pretty boring so the author does not do so. Instead we get some shrewd psychological appreciations from a man who is a master of practical psychology because of the joys of oracular confession
By and large I enjoyed these stories. I cannot say that I thought all of the stories to be compelling, and this book is not quite as interesting to read as a Brother Cadfael story would be. All things considered, though, this is a pleasant mystery series and Father Brown's ability to understand motives is worthwhile and striking. If you read these stories, and if you have read the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, upon which these stories depend at least in part, you have an idea of what is going on with Brown being wise and also the sort of person it is easy to ignore if you are so inclined as being not very worldly wise because he is a Catholic priest of rather admittedly unsettled habits. And that is something that can be quite intriguing to read and easy to enjoy if you have the right mindset, but the reader must be prepared for Chesterton's strange tolerance, where a French thief can be an easy confidant because he is Catholic and has reformed himself but where the author feels free to malign blacks, Jews, and Calvinists with impunity, which is not something that will meet the contemporary prejudices of many readers.
This particular book is about 400 pages long and contains no annotations and the complete stories for the first two Father Brown books. This includes the following stories from The Innocence Of Father Brown: "The Blue Cross," "The Secret Garden," "The Queer Feet," "The Flying Stairs," "The Invisible Man," "The Honour Of Israel Gow," "The Wrong Shape," "The Sins Of Prince Sardine," "The Hammer Of God," "The Eye Of Apollo," "The Sign Of The Broken Sword," and "The Three Tools Of Death." It also includes the following stories from The Wisdom Of Father Brown: "The Absence Of Mr. Glass," "The Paradise Of Thieves," "The Duel Of Dr. Hirsch," "The Man In The Passage," "The Mistake Of The Machine," "The Head Of Caesar," "The Purple Wig," "The Perishing Of The Pendragons," "The God Of The Gongs," "The Salad Of Colonel Cray," "The Strange Crime Of John Boulnois," and "The Fairy Tale Of Father Brown." In many of these stories we see the expansion of Father Brown's area of traveling--he is not nearly as settled as a "Father" should be, but that might be pretty boring so the author does not do so. Instead we get some shrewd psychological appreciations from a man who is a master of practical psychology because of the joys of oracular confession
By and large I enjoyed these stories. I cannot say that I thought all of the stories to be compelling, and this book is not quite as interesting to read as a Brother Cadfael story would be. All things considered, though, this is a pleasant mystery series and Father Brown's ability to understand motives is worthwhile and striking. If you read these stories, and if you have read the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, upon which these stories depend at least in part, you have an idea of what is going on with Brown being wise and also the sort of person it is easy to ignore if you are so inclined as being not very worldly wise because he is a Catholic priest of rather admittedly unsettled habits. And that is something that can be quite intriguing to read and easy to enjoy if you have the right mindset, but the reader must be prepared for Chesterton's strange tolerance, where a French thief can be an easy confidant because he is Catholic and has reformed himself but where the author feels free to malign blacks, Jews, and Calvinists with impunity, which is not something that will meet the contemporary prejudices of many readers.
August 30, 2016
I didn't realize this was a radio dramatization of the Father Brown Mysteries because a) I didn't actually read the description before snapping it up from my local library digital collection, and b) it was the only GK Chesterton audiobook my library has.
I will need to look into the other libraries where I have a membership. I did like the story, and I liked Father Brown, and I liked Chesterton's narrative style where it came through despite the format. But I didn't really like the way it was laid out. In other words, I'd have probably loved the BOOK, but I was meh on the drama.
I will need to look into the other libraries where I have a membership. I did like the story, and I liked Father Brown, and I liked Chesterton's narrative style where it came through despite the format. But I didn't really like the way it was laid out. In other words, I'd have probably loved the BOOK, but I was meh on the drama.
July 16, 2025
I purchased the complete Father Brown but am only going to take credit for the first volume (really, 7 chapters) because I didn't like it. I really, really, really don't like people being murdered and then the murder being ignored and a theft seen as more important.
Not a fan.
Not a fan.
November 13, 2025
Very interesting. It is different from the series. I think these stories were quicker. But very interesting.
February 10, 2009
Through five sets of short stories (this particular version containing the first two sets), Chesterton reveals his view of the world, especially spiritual and philosophical truths. Each story features the priest, Father Brown, who solves crimes through logic. The series reminded me of a father telling bedtime stories to his children using familiar characters to teach life truths. My dad use to teach us history and morals through made up stories of his travels with his horse 'Ole Painter' adventuring in the Lewis & Clark days.
Chesterton uses minimal words to create elaborate scenes that come to life in the mind of the reader. Within every story I found profound truths simply explained. For example: "Men may keep a sort of level of good, but no man has ever been able to keep on one level of evil." (in The Flying Stars) and "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. Somewhere else retribution will come on the real offender. Here it often seems to fall on the wrong person." (in The Sins of Prince Saradine)
Chesterton uses minimal words to create elaborate scenes that come to life in the mind of the reader. Within every story I found profound truths simply explained. For example: "Men may keep a sort of level of good, but no man has ever been able to keep on one level of evil." (in The Flying Stars) and "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. Somewhere else retribution will come on the real offender. Here it often seems to fall on the wrong person." (in The Sins of Prince Saradine)
February 26, 2017
What a fun series! Who would have thought that a little Roman Catholic priest would make such a clever and delightful detective? Well, obviously GK Chesterton did, and I'm glad he gave Father Brown a chance. This collection, which contains two previously published books: The Innocence of Father Brown and The Wisdom of Father Brown is part one of two collections of the complete stories. Each story seemed to be more clever than the one before it, and each was so simple, so clever, that I was surprised I didn't see it myself. After a while, I found myself trying to figure out the answers along with the detective--who continued to outsmart me.
I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a good, cozy mystery. These stories are clever and fun and sure to delight!
I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a good, cozy mystery. These stories are clever and fun and sure to delight!
June 12, 2011
The stories are great (think of Father Brown as a slightly more modern and far less sure of himself Sherlock Holmes) but I can't give this production of Father Brown mysteries higher than three stars precisely because of the production quality. This recording sounds like it was originally made for the radio, but the dramatization of the first story is so very flawed I debated whether or not to go on. Not only were there two particularly bad actors - one doing a lousy French accent, the other sounding like she just woke up - but there's one whole scene when the microphone for the actor playing Father Brown - you know, the MAIN CHARACTER - must not have been on. And that's what apparently aired. Both the acting and the production improve after that for the most part, but while I would recommend mystery fans check out some of the Father Brown collections, I would just as strongly recommend getting this audiobook version from the library rather than pay for it.
June 4, 2015
Whimsical Catholic priest who goes about solving mysteries. The dramatization was excellent. I loved this! Will definitely be returning to this book soon.
Wish I could find the rest of the volumes, too.
Wish I could find the rest of the volumes, too.
October 13, 2011
This auidio is dramatized for the radio, so it's shorter and perhaps a little more confusing than the book form... Also has lots of profanity.
August 15, 2012
I listened to the audio, dramatized in radio theater style. It was a fun listen, eventhough some of the voices were somewhat flat.
December 21, 2013
Delightful reading. I am so glad that GKC was a prolific writer so that I can always have him to fall back on when I need some great reading material.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews