G.K. Chesterton—The Blue Cross

Chesterton’s Father Brown, while no Sherlock Holmes, stands as one of the significant figures in detective fiction. Frankly, I’d argue that no detective fiction is “great literature,” whatever that means, but it is enjoyed by millions of people. I suppose enjoyment constitutes greatness in one sense.
Without doing a bit more research, I can’t say whether “The Blue Cross” is the first of Chesterton’s invocations of the detective-priest. Regardless, this story does not have the typical structure of a detective tale.
In the midst of this ungreat literature, I find several points of interest for the Christian reader:
First, Brown stands in a noble crossroads for the educated believer, straddling the way of faith and of reason. Is intellect is powerful, yet it does not preclude his belief. His belief is profound, yet it does not compromise his intellect. I believe that the Christian is called to stand at just such a place.
Second, the great secular detective, Valentin, on whom ninety percent of this story dwells, exists solely in the realm of intellect and reason. While Valentin’s powers are significant and lead him toward the consummation of the case, he finds himself beaten to the case’s solution by the more rounded Brown.
Finally, the revelation of Brown toward the end of the story performs a powerful reversal. All through the story, the smaller priest has been portrayed as a hapless lamb, about to be sheared by the wily Flambeau, yet in the end, it is he who does the shearing. Father Brown here stands as a sort of Christ figure, a man who in the limited vision of the world seems mildly annoying and largely worthless, yet, when seen fully, in the largest context, is found to be incredibly more powerful and competent than initially suspected.
So, great literature or not, Chesterton’s story offers something of worth to the willing reader.