The Ball and the Cross

G.K. Chesterton's second novel, originally published in 1910, is an allegorical fantasy detailing a heated dispute between two Scotsmen, one a Roman Catholic and the other an atheist, whose fanatical opinions lead to a series of comic misadventures. A vigorous exploration of the debate between theism and atheism.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an English author, philosopher, Christian apologist, and literary critic, born on May 29, 1874, in Kensington, London, to parents Marie and Edward Chesterton. He was educated at St. Paul's Juniors and University College London before studying at the Slade School of Fine Art. Chesterton's career was diverse, spanning across fiction, essays, and philosophical works. He was especially renowned for creating the fictional priest-detective Father Brown. His writings often explored themes of faith, society, and morality, deeply influenced by his Christian beliefs. His key works, such as Orthodoxy and The Everlasting Man, cemented his reputation as an important intellectual figure. Chesterton was close friends with fellow writer Hilaire Belloc and was influenced by philosophers like Thomas Aquinas and Charles Dickens. He married Frances Blogg in 1901, and the couple remained together until his death on June 14, 1936, at the age of 62 in Beaconsfield, United Kingdom. Chesterton's works, particularly the Father Brown stories, continue to inspire readers and remain significant in detective fiction and Christian apologetics.