Father Brown and the Ten Commandments: Selected Mystery Stories

by G.K. Chesterton, John Peterson (Editor)

This unique collection of Father Brown mysteries links tales by G.K. Chesterton with the Ten Commandments. The connection is often surprising, however, for the criminal is not necessarily the worst sinner in the story, nor is his crime necessarily the worst offense. When Chesterton created the character of Father Brown, he brought a new dimension to mystery stories—the distinction between crime and sin. As the priest-detective applies his powers of observation to solve a case, he picks up clues about other offenses, such as those against the Sabbath or one's parents. Father Brown's main concern is not the laws of the State but the Commandments of God. As Dorothy Sayers once wrote, G.K. Chesterton was "the first man of our time to introduce the great name of God into a detective story . . . to enlarge the boundaries of the detective story by making it deal with death and real wickedness and real, that is to say, divine judgment." This edition includes footnotes not available in other versions, which help to clarify the literary and historical allusions made by Father Brown. It is based on the texts of Chesterton's original editions, for assurance of authenticity, and is set in easily readable type.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction

255 pages, Paperback

Published April 17, 2017

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

[Rachael Shipard · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to-and-from Chartres pilgrimage read…never read any Fr Brown before so this was a good selection matching the commandments. Although the stories had some element of thrill, I didnt find them very complex in plot (as compared to lengthier Agatha Christie stories for example) and sometimes Chesterton’s moralising is a little forced, i thought. He is a great people watcher and i found many characters in the stories that i felt i knew in person. Nevertheless a charming read for a long coach ride!

[Dale Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Father Brown collection I've read this year. As with Father Brown of the Church of Rome, this collection of eleven short stories present clever puzzles and incisive social commentary. True to the style of the times, Chesterton's long expository passages might tire some readers, but his wit shines through, sometimes to the point of making you spit out whatever you happen to be drinking as you read.

The stories are organized around the Ten Commandments, although as the editor explains, the tenth gets split to yield eleven tales. In some of them, the connection is obvious. In a few, it seems a bit more tenuous. But regardless, it's a wonderful collection, and ends on a strong note with "The Green Man." It's well worth the effort, even in today's faster-paced world, to absorb these tales.

[Ted Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Peterson artfully compiled and edited eleven classic G.K. Chesterton's, Father Brown detective mysteries in a volume dedicated to the Ten Commandments. The short stories, written between 1911 and 1933, appeared initially in various national magazines. These masterpieces contain a treasure chest of quirky fun; full of surprising depth of meaning, revealing Chesterton's wit, charm, and insight. I agree with the following quoted review by T. M. Doran...."Father Brown stories stand in stark contrast to twenty-first century mysteries that portray a hopelessly disordered world. For Chesterton, the world is messy because of sin, but its Creator is actively engaged in it."

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the selected stories, and the set up Peterson established in the introduction. While the footnotes were helpful without being distracting, the literary scholar in me wanted more context for the stories themselves. I think I was hoping for that when I picked this. Chesterton is brilliant as long as your thinking brain is on (which is probably why I waited until July to read this. . .)

[Brace1737 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of eleven of the fifty-one Father Brown stories written before World
War II. These mysteries are puzzles of human behavior that onlyu Father Brown can solve.

Comment:
Today readers of mystery are use to reading mystery novels. Chesterton was writing when the short story was the mode of mystery writing. Keep that in mind when you begin this collection.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

GK Chesterton came highly regarded. I feel like a failure when I say I could barely make it 3 pages before wanting to stop. I read the first story, disliked it. Started the second, couldn’t stand it after 2 pages, tried the 3rd and just said forget it.

I will try one of his Father Brown full length novels.

What a disappointment.

[Sallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, but you could really tell how long ago they were written! I've never read any Father Brown mysteries before, and this book was loaned to me by a friend. I'll look for more once I get my TBR pile down a lot more.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read! Never read Chesterton before, but have watched Kenneth More and Mark Williams as the good Father Brown. He's almost too clever for his own good, even though he's only a character in stories.

[Arjuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too old of an English to me, breaks the rithm.