The Ballad of the White Horse

More than a thousand years ago, the ruler of a beleaguered kingdom saw a vision of the Virgin Mary that moved him to rally his chiefs and make a last stand. Alfred the Great freed his realm from Danish invaders in the year 878 with an against-all-odds triumph at the Battle of Ethandune. In this ballad, G. K. Chesterton equates Alfred's struggles with Christianity's fight against nihilism and heathenism a battle that continues to this day.
One of the last great epic poems, this tale unfolds in the Vale of the White Horse, where Alfred fought the Danes in a valley beneath an ancient equine figure etched upon the Berkshire hills. Chesterton employs the mysterious image as a symbol of the traditions that preserve humanity. His allegory of the power of faith in the face of an invasive foe was much quoted in the dark days of 1940, when Britain was under attack by Nazis. This new edition offers an authoritative, inexpensive version of Chesterton's inspiring work.Dover (2010) unabridged republication of the edition published by John Lane Company, New York, 1911."

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

G.K.Chesterton, in full Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874-14 June 1936), English critic and author of poetry, essays, novels, and short stories, known also for his dynamic personality and obese figure. He was an important English writer of the early twentieth century. His productive and various output included journalism, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction. He has been concerned to as the 'prince of paradox'. He devoted his extraordinary brain and creative power to the reform of English government and society. He was knowledgeable at St. Paul's, and went to art school at University College London. He wrote 100 books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. Chesterton expired on 14 June 1936 at his home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.