Un católico y un ateo intentan batirse en duelo a muerte, cada uno por defender sus ideas. No lo consiguen, pues siempre tiene que huir de las autoridades que tratan de impedírselo, lo que al final termina por convertilos en aliados.
En su huida en busca de un lugar donde librar el duelo, una huida que se produce por tierra y mar, incluso por aire y hasta estratosféricamente (Chesterton fabula aquí deliciosamente con naves volantes que van hasta las estrellas), acabarán dirigiéndose del sur de Inglaterra a las islas del Canal de la Mancha merced a unos avatares por momentos delirantes y plenos de comicidad, y por momentos emotivos, en tanto la amistad de los dos forajidos va consolidándose precisamente a partir de sus presupuestos ideológicos contrarios. Como el resto de las obras de Chesterton, La esfera y la cruz abunda en paradojas y aventuras que bordean lo insólito, hasta desembocar en una insurrección en un manicomio, desatada por el ateo y el católico, en una sucesión de cuadros tan disparatados como mordaces a través de los cuales hace Chesterton una crítica feroz de las instituciones psiquiátricas y de los médicos, así como de todo lo que convencionalmente se tiene por razonable y cuerdo.

MacIan, a fiery Catholic, breaks the windows of the Ludgate Hill offices of The Atheist, incensed by one of its editorials, and determined to challenge its editor, Turnbull, to a duel. Thwarted at every turn in their attempts to fight, they continue their mad journey in search of solitude to the accompanimnet of continual debate, from which they come to recognise the validity of each other's position. Only an apocalyptic ending resolves the tensions of their relationship, in one of Chesterton's most individual novels, where passionate religious debate is combined with adventures in the high picaresque tradition.

Introduction by Paul Jennings

Chesteron's virtues, as always, swamp his vices. With Chesterton you always get fair play to the enemy when you don't expect it, and vivid, unforgettable moments: the sunlight shining into the back lot behind the shop, the doomed duel in the canyon filled by the tide, the repulsive Magdalen fellow with the south sea idol in his garden. Not ultimately, as successful as his other great, strange dreams (Thursday, Napoleon of Notting Hill), but that's a high standard.

I was disappointed in this work on many levels. On a positive note, the general story line is an interesting concept. However, Chesterton's writing style is dated and sometimes tedious, and many of his attempts at witty dialogue and/or compelling debate over religion versus atheism fall short. His preposterous ending did not help either. ( )

The Ball and the Cross follows Evan MacIan, a devout Catholic, and James Turnbull, an ardent atheist, on an engaging romp throughout England as they attempt to find a quiet spot to fight to the death over the supremacy of their respective ideologies. Satire, humor and solid writing follow as various adventures and assorted characters interrupt their immolatory efforts. Despite, or even because of, their differences, they come to like and respect the other, even as they vow to run him through with a sword.

Published in 1909, this book remains timely 100+ years later. (Only now, Christopher Hitchens and Alistair MacGrath debate on YouTube about religious belief in a modern world.) My edition includes an excellent introduction by Martin Gardner, who describes the genesis of the book from many conversations between Catholic Chesterton and Robert Peel Glanville Blatchford, a "then widely read journalist who was an archenemy of Christianity." (Amazingly, upon the death of his wife, in 1923, Blatchford developed a belief in the afterlife and became a spiritualist!) I appreciate that Chesterton, in writing The Ball and The Cross, didn't take sides. MacIan and Turnball are well matched in their vigorous and various positions. Chesterton allows the reader to make up his or her own mind.

Quite enjoyed this book. There is humor, particularly as the two main characters' battle royale is constantly being denied by circumstance. ( )