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The Wisdom of Father Brown

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About this listen

G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown is perhaps the most lovable amateur detective ever created. This short, shabby priest with his cherubic, round face attracts situations that baffle everyone - except Father Brown and his rather naïve wisdom.

The twelve enthralling stories in this book take Father Brown from London to Cornwall, from Italy to France, as he gets involved with bandits, treason, murder, curses, and an American crime-detection machine. And every problem he comes up against he solves with a simplicity of argument that leaves the other characters wondering, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Stories include:

  • “The Absence of Mr. Glass,”
  • “The Paradise of Thieves,”
  • “The Duel of Dr. Hirsch,"
  • “The Man in the Passage”
  • “The Mistake of the Machine”
  • “The Head of Caesar”
  • “The Purple Wig”
  • “The Perishing of the Pendragons,”
  • “The God of the Gongs,”
  • “The Salad of Colonel Cray,”
  • “The Strange Crime of John Boulnois”
  • “The Fairy Tale of Father Brown”

G. K. CHESTERTON (1874–1936) authored thousands of works, including compilations of his voluminous journalism, novels, short stories, essays, biography, history, criticism, Christian apologetics, poetry, and plays. His work is characterized by tremendous zest and energy, a mastery of paradox, a robust humor, and forthright devotion.

Public Domain (P)1992 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Mystery Crime Witty Fiction Suspense Short Stories
All stars
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terrible narrator, really off putting voice and supercilious delivery.
I couldn't last more than 10 minutes and have now found a much better version

terrible narrator

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I won’t repeat the reviews of the narration - it’s all been said I’m afraid: utterly wrong.
No, I want to comment on the completely repulsive and offensive use of racist language. Now, I know this was of its period, and I assume an editorial decision must have been made to include - in particular - The God of the Gongs. I’m aware that this represents some of the attitudes of the time (although some of this must have been extreme even in Chesterton’s time), and I’ve come across milder examples elsewhere, in other writers. I’ve also read the Father Brown stories since I was a teenager in the ‘60s, so I am a fan of them in general- for example, the BBC radio dramatisation is excellent.
But I was shocked by this, believe that at the least this particular story should be removed, and as the general standard isn’t good anyway, I think the whole reading should be withdrawn. I’m going to ask for a refund.

A shocking disappointment

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Interesting and varied stories, even though it's highly incredible that one priest should run across so much crime...

Entertaining

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I felt as if this book was not from the same pen as others I have read. And much to my sorrow I did not enjoy the reader or the stories. However I will dip into the stories again, but not as a whole book.

I've lost Father Brown!!

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The extremely clipped and manored performance makes it very difficult to catch all the words.

Spoiled by narrator

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