PREFACE
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PREFACEby Ageless Reads
The Father Brown Mysteries fall into the category of mystery fiction or crime fiction. They follow the simple pattern of some mysterious death or crime that needs to be solved. There will be a variety of different suspects that each carry different motives and as a reader you will try and work out the truth along with the detective on the case. The central character must always be the detective and so you can relate to the character and it is only possible for you to know what he knows during the story. Along with this typical frame, mystery novels have a lot of other things in common such as themes. Mystery fiction involves puzzles and elements of suspense and tension alongside gritty unavoidable realism.
There are many different crossovers when it comes to genre, meaning mystery novels may also include aspects of supernatural writing or thriller fiction. The solution to the crime does not always have to be logical and realistic but it is important to be believable. There is a big difference between writing that is unrealistic and unbelievable. Just because something is out-of-this-world-style unrealistic, perhaps where aliens or undead beings are involved, doesn’t mean it has to be incredible. Mystery stories can contain elements of realism but these are generally classified under a slightly different title, detective stories. The fact that the genre of mystery is so open to interpretation allows for a large scope. Each mystery novel will vary greatly from the next but all are somewhat inspired by the mystery novels that have come before.
The Father Brown stories are written by GK Chesterton, an English writer, lay theologian, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, literary and art critic, biographer and Christian apologist. Sometimes he is referred to as the ‘prince of paradox’ because of his writing style. One critic observed that ‘whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories – first carefully turning them inside out.’
In total Chesterton wrote about 80 books, about 200 short stories, 4000 essays, several plays and several hundred poems. He was an expert in many different fields and explored a great range of roles in his lifetime from debater to historian and social critic. Chesterton was a columnist for the Daily News, The Illustrated London News and his own paper GK’s Weekly. He also wrote articles from time to time for the Encylopædia Britannica, including an entry on Charles Dickens, during the latter part of his life. His most famous novel is arguably The Man Who Was Thursday but he received high appraise for a large amount of his work.
Chesterton’s writing, although his style and thinking is all his own, his inspiration is said to be mainly Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw because of their writing styles. His writing is also said to contain elements of the writing of Charles Dickens. Chesterton and Shaw were good friends and enjoyed their arguments and discussions. Although they rarely agreed over the matters discussed they took great inspiration from each other’s writing styles and maintained a solid friendship built on respect.
Chesterton received praise for his writing both during his lifetime and posthumously. He is a key name under the genre of mystery fiction.
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