G K Chesterton

The Ballad of the White Horse G K Chesterton

This epic poem written by G K Chesterton is about the idealized exploits of the Saxon King Alfred the Great, published in 1911. The poem narrates how Alfred was able to defeat the invading Danes at the Battle of Ethandun with the aid of the Virgin Mary, and by extension, God. In addition to being a narration of Alfred's militaristic and political accomplishments, it is also considered a Catholic allegory. Chesterton incorporates a significant amount of philosophy into the basic structure of the story. This edition contains extensive footnotes from the Catholic perspective, as well as a large Intensive Study section in the back of the book.