The Sign of the Broken Sword: A Father Brown Mystery

by G.K. Chesterton

"Well," resumed Father Brown, "it's not fair to say that the public impression is just what I've said, without adding that two things have happened since. I can't say they threw a new light; for nobody can make sense of them. But they threw a new kind of darkness; they threw the darkness in new directions. The first was this. The family physician of the St. Clares quarrelled with that family, and began publishing a violent series of articles, in which he said that the late general was a religious maniac; but as far as the tale went, this seemed to mean little more than a religious man.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2009

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

[Verba Non Res · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borges y sus precursores. “The Sign of the Broken Sword” es el más borgiano de los cuentos de Chesterton que llevo leídos. Algo ya me había hecho sospechar el título, que evoca a “La forma de la espada” – otro relato en el que la perspectiva es todo, y una sola persona concentra en sí los dos papeles antagónicos. Pero “The Sign of the Broken Sword” es más afín a “Tema del traidor y del héroe”. Recién después de leerlo me acordé de que Borges empieza este cuento célebre con la frase “Bajo el notorio influjo de Chesterton…”. Invirtiendo causas y efectos, “The Sign” parece no la inspiración sino la realización imperfecta del argumento propuesto por Borges. Es el truco borgiano por excelencia: describir historias, antes que contarlas, y generar una especie de expectación que ninguna historia contada efectivamente puede complacer. En este cuento, el padre Brown estudia también la muerte de un personaje célebre, contrasta documentos históricos, nota las contradicciones, y concluye que el héroe fue en realidad un traidor, pero al tiempo le da la razón a los conspiradores y considera que lo mejor, para el orgullo y la mística nacional, es que la verdad no se sepa. Estas figuras pierden por su concreción frente al relato borgiano: St. Claire delata su carácter ficcional frente al vago Kilpatrick, y el padre Brown frente a Nolan, e Inglaterra no es el “país oprimido y tenaz”, que podría ser Irlanda, o Polonia, o la República de Venecia, o alguna república balcánica o sudamericana.

Cuento #11 de El candor del padre Brown

Anterior: “The Eye of Apollo”

Siguiente: “The Three Tools of Death”

[Ben Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little novella. Wild that Chesterton can keep me interested in one of his characters themselves basically just telling a story lol.

[Abraham Lewik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather good, but encourages the worship of false idols so it loses a star for moral reasons.

[Stephen Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chesterton gives excellent atmospheric description in this one. Within this frosty night atmosphere, the plot relies almost entirely on the narration of Father Brown. The good priest has discovered a dreadful twist that I'm surprised I've never seen copied.

[Luke Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and punchy, with some classic chesterton one liners.

[Deefbruh · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Where would a wise man hide a leaf? In the forest.”
But, “If there were no forest he would make a forest. And if he wished to hide a dead leaf he would make a dead forest.”


"What is the good of a man being honest in his worship of dishonesty?"

[Perry Whitford · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Where does a wise man hide a pebble?"

Father Brown poses the question and answers it by way of a military tale about a prudent English general and his honourable Brazilian adversary, both of whom behave seemingly out of character at the showdown which cost the former his life.

A sobering example of the lengths bad people are willing to go, told with panache and overlaid with a delicious irony.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes one wonder if we celebrate the right people in history.

[Chels Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sign of the Broken Sword by GK Chesterton

Is sharp!

This is not the first father brown mystery I have read. I suspect it’s my 11th or so. And like the TV show I find them entertaining and enjoyable for stretching my mind.

What I loved most about this is, in part, the title. We are looking for something that isn’t there. Not just part of a broken sword, but the missing strategy, the missing compassion, the missing emotions.

You won’t be able to solve it simply because there is knowledge we are not privy to untill we are told by Father Brown. Instead we are like Flambeau trying to open our minds to reality.

I loved the repeating thought experiment, where do you hide a leaf? Where do you hide a pibble? Where do you hide a corpse? I shall think of this at times when to convey … well I’m not sure but I think it will stay with me.

This book is for those that enjoys fast read, mystery and Father Brown!

[Arijit Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was pleasantly surprised to see the infamous Flambo working with Father Brown. The story revolves around Father Brown and Flambo taking a stroll through a certain county, discussing the affairs surrounding the martyrdom of a national hero hailing from there. I have always admired detective stories like this that put all the clues necessary to figure out the case in front of the reader and have the main character solve it when the reader couldn't. This establishes the cranial superiority of a character. I detest stories where clues are deliberately withheld and presented at the climax, to feign intelligence, achieving the exact opposite. With this story, Father Brown has undoubtedly become one of my favourites in the genre.

[Daniel Gish · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.2/5) I know this barely counts as a book. But this short story was interesting nonetheless.

“Where would a wise man hide a leaf? In a forest. But what does he do if there is no forest? … He grows a forest to hide it in. A fearful sin.”

To see Chesterton begin with this premise and wrap it into a story of immorality and hypocrisy in just a few pages was fascinating. I might read much more of Father Brown…

[Sapphire Detective · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the classic Father Brown stories. Classic solution too, used by many since. It really does seem that Chesterton stacked his best at either end of the book.

My rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up)
Would I own/re-read?: Sure!
TW: War, Death, Suicide (perceived), Murder
Does the animal die?: No animals are harmed in the Breaking of the Sword.

[JayD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written little mystery by GK Chesterton about honor and death amongst soldiers. It keeps its pace until the last as Father Brown slowly unveils the history of the mysterious death of a much-loved military hero to a flummoxed Flambeau.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story concerning an English general and his Brazilian adversary during war. Both seem to behave out of character but Father Brown unravels the truth.
An interesting story

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!!

[Chanover55 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit different; Father Brown seems to know details about the last battle of a revered English "war hero", which has Foam beau uncertain

[Saumen · Rating 2 out of 5]

এই ছাতার ফাদার ব্রাউন আমার সহ্য হবে না। ঐতিহাসিক গল্প নাকি মিস্ট্রি বুঝলাম না, কিন্তু গল্প বলার মধ্যেই মনে হল সে পুথিঁপড়া বিদ্যা ঝেড়ে দিচ্ছেন।

নেহাত মির্চি শোনার অভ্যাস বলে..

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Małgorzata Karpeta-Olech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dla wszystkich wielbicieli klasycznego angielskiego kryminału.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with a horrid solution. But we might suspect this sort of crime is committed often by the powerful "elite" among world "leaders". QED