The Ballad of the White Horse

by G. K. Chesterton

Overview

The Ballad of the White Horse is a poem by G. K. Chesterton about the idealised exploits of the Saxon King Alfred the Great, published in 1911. Written in ballad form, the work has been described as one of the last great traditional epic poems ever written in the English language. The poem narrates how Alfred was able to defeat the invading Danes at the Battle of Ethandun under the auspices of God working through the agency of the Virgin Mary. In addition to being a narration of Alfred's military and political accomplishments, it is also considered a Roman Catholic allegory. Chesterton incorporates a significant amount of philosophy into the basic structure of the story. (Wikipedia)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783962728496
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	01/11/2019
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	54
File size:	583 KB

About the Author

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936), was an English writer, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, lay theologian, biographer, and literary and art critic. Chesterton is often referred to as the "prince of paradox". Time magazine has observed of his writing style: "Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out." Chesterton is well known for his fictional priest-detective Father Brown, and for his reasoned apologetics. Even some of those who disagree with him have recognised the wide appeal of such works as Orthodoxy and The Everlasting Man. Chesterton routinely referred to himself as an "orthodox" Christian, and came to identify this position more and more with Catholicism, eventually converting to Catholicism from High Church Anglicanism. George Bernard Shaw, his "friendly enemy", said of him, "He was a man of colossal genius". (Wikipedia)

Table of Contents

Book I
The Vision of the KIng
Book II
The Gathering of the Chiefs
Book III
The Harp of Alfred
Book IV
The Woman in the Forest
Book V
Ethandune: The First Stroke
Book VI
Ethandune: The Slaying of the Chiefs
Book VII
Ethandune: The Last Charge
Book VIII
The Scouring of the Horse

Editorial Reviews

"When Chesterton writes poetry, he excels like no other modern writer. The rhyme, rhythm, alliteration and imagery are a complete joy to the ear. But The Ballad of the White Horse is not just a poem. It is a prophecy."
— Dale Ahlquist, President, The American Chesterton Society

"Not only a charming poem and a great tale, this is a keystone work of Christian literature that will be read long after most of the books of our era are forgotten."
— Michael O'Brien, Author, Father Elijah

From the Publisher