The Innocence Of Father Brown - Tumblr Posts

Book Review: The Innocence of Father Brown, G. K. Chesterton

“I am a man,” answered Father Brown gravely; “and therefore have all devils in my heart."

Full Review:

I was pleasently surprised by both the style of the narration and the nature of this book: rather than a single, spread out mystery across many chapters, Chesterton writes a bit-sized crime for each one, all of them easily laid out apart by the gentle Father Brown.

Our main "detective" in these short stories is a humble man of faith, who sometimes lets himself poke fun at the skepticism of the non-believers when the crime seems unsolvable at first glance, making the kind of satyrical comments only someone ingratiated with God would make, with only a hint of a blush.

He's often accompanied by Flambeau, former criminal mastermind, now reformed detective, who consults the Father for advice and perspective on the most complex mysteries he comes across.

"Something has fallen on us that falls very seldom on men; perhaps the worst thing that can fall on them. [...] We have found the truth; and the truth makes no sense.”

Given the quick and fast paced nature of the mysteries, one ends up reading them to find out the extravagant solution the Father Brown stumbles upon by grace of rationality and divine inspiration rather than trying to solve them themselves.

The narration is adorned simultaneously by the religious reflexions of the Father Brown and the constant exhaltation of rational thinking as a valid and necessary way to navigate the world.

My Other 2024 Readings.