Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Dover Publications (2010), Edition: Unabridged, 144 pages
Description
Fiction. Poetry. HTML: British writer G.K. Chesterton was an irrepressible jack-of-all-trades when it came to literature, producing popular works in virtually every genre. The Ballad of the White Horse is an epic poem detailing the triumphs and travails of Saxon King Alfred the Great. It is said that Chesterton spent more time on this poem than any other work, and some critics regard it as his finest poetic accomplishment..
User reviews
LibraryThing member Amelia_Smith
Epic poetry is hard, especially for those of us who don't come from a strong oral storytelling tradition. The opening and closing chapters were strong, but in the middle I kind of struggled to keep going with it. I read this on my kindle at night and was also intermittently listening to the Illiad
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as an audio book in the car. The Ballad of the White Horse didn't compare well -- the timing was just slightly off, and it didn't have the polish of so many, many centuries of re-telling. Still, it was a good effort, and I might try re-reading it in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member scottjpearson
This poem attempts to mark a great historical event in English history. It does so not by chronicling history but by celebrating the human spirit. King Alfred the Great, against all odds, defeated Danish invaders in the year 878. The Battle of Ethandune went a long way in establishing the
Although the symbolism is clear, the poem is not overtly religious. The main triumph takes place on the battlefield and in the hearts of English soldiers. Chesterton, while outspoken, clearly possesses class and dignity. The Danish invaders represent a world of dark chaos while the English leader Alfred represents a culture of light, song, and rare class (like a white horse). Yes, Alfred represents all that is good on the English isle. And like all good British subjects, they should rally around their monarchical head of state.
This poem was picked up in the Battle of Britain in 1940 when the English were again fighting against all odds against the Nazis. Chesterton was used to remind the Brits not only of their ingenuity but also that their personal strength can overcome all odds. Indeed, Churchill – whatever his racist faults were – was a new King Alfred. Belief, faith, and heart are all evoked in this poem, and the verse sought to inspire an island and an Empire in tumult.
That same belief, faith, and heart are still needed in the world today. Chesterton reminds us that when wedded to skill, belief has a power that can overcome demagoguery and hollow show. That is true not only of England but also of the human race. Alfred, Chesterton, and England have plenty of faults, but they have also contributed to saving civilization. The battle for such victories lie within, based on personal courage and integrity. With its detailed crafting and human resonance, Chesterton’s poem simply inspires.
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constitutional unity of an English people. Chesterton, writing over a millennium later, sought to use his prodigious talents to excite the English people to embrace their Christian history as they faced a coming century of a disorderly world.Although the symbolism is clear, the poem is not overtly religious. The main triumph takes place on the battlefield and in the hearts of English soldiers. Chesterton, while outspoken, clearly possesses class and dignity. The Danish invaders represent a world of dark chaos while the English leader Alfred represents a culture of light, song, and rare class (like a white horse). Yes, Alfred represents all that is good on the English isle. And like all good British subjects, they should rally around their monarchical head of state.
This poem was picked up in the Battle of Britain in 1940 when the English were again fighting against all odds against the Nazis. Chesterton was used to remind the Brits not only of their ingenuity but also that their personal strength can overcome all odds. Indeed, Churchill – whatever his racist faults were – was a new King Alfred. Belief, faith, and heart are all evoked in this poem, and the verse sought to inspire an island and an Empire in tumult.
That same belief, faith, and heart are still needed in the world today. Chesterton reminds us that when wedded to skill, belief has a power that can overcome demagoguery and hollow show. That is true not only of England but also of the human race. Alfred, Chesterton, and England have plenty of faults, but they have also contributed to saving civilization. The battle for such victories lie within, based on personal courage and integrity. With its detailed crafting and human resonance, Chesterton’s poem simply inspires.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1911
Physical description
144 p.; 0.5 inches
ISBN
0486475638 / 9780486475639
UPC
800759475636
Other editions
The Ballad of the White Horse by G. K. Chesterton (Hardcover)