The Ball and the Cross

The Ball and the Cross is a novel by G. K. Chesterton. The title refers to a more worldly and rationalist worldview, represented by a ball or sphere, and the cross representing Christianity. The first chapters of the book were serialized from 1905 to 1906^[1] with the completed work published in 1909.

The novel's beginning involves debates about rationalism and religion between a Professor Lucifer and a monk named Michael. A part of this section was quoted in Pope John Paul I's letter to Chesterton in Illustrissimi.^[2] Much of the rest of the book concerns the duelling, figurative and somewhat more literal, of a Jacobite Catholic named Evan MacIan and an atheist socialist named James Turnbull.^[3] Lynette Hunter has argued that the novel is more sympathetic to MacIan, but does indicate MacIan is also presented as in some ways too extreme.^[4] Turnbull, as well, is presented in a sympathetic light: both duelists are ready to fight for and die for their antagonistic opinions and, in doing so, develop a certain partnership that evolves into a friendship. The real antagonist is the world outside, which desperately tries to prevent from happening a duel over "mere religion" (a subject both duelists judge of utmost importance).

Many^[who?] have seen echoes in the novel of Chesterton's own longstanding and very public debates over religion with his friend, George Bernard Shaw.^{[citation needed]}