The Diabolist by G.K. Chesterton
The Diabolist is a short story by G.K. Chesterton that follows the adventures of Father Brown, a priest and amateur detective. In this particular tale, Father Brown investigates a series of strange events at a country house, where he discovers that the owner's son has been possessed by a demonic force. With his keen insight and understanding of human nature, Father Brown is able to uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings and save the young man from the clutches of evil.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1905 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Fiction · 1,852 words
First lines
Every now and then I have introduced into my essays an element of truth. Things that really happened have been mentioned, such as meeting President Kruger or being thrown out of a cab. What I have now to relate really happened; yet there was no element in it of practical politics or of personal danger. It was simply a quiet conversation which I had with another man. But that quiet conversation was by far the most terrible thing that has ever happened to me in my life. It happened so long ago that I cannot be certain of the exact words of the dialogue, only of its main questions and answers; but there is one sentence in it for which I can answer absolutely and word for word. It was a sentence so awful that I could not forget it if I would. It was the last sentence spoken; and it was not spoken to me.
What this Textopian page supports
The Diabolist is listed on Textopian as a short story by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Religious Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 1,852 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Diabolist by G.K. Chesterton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- The Red Angel by G. K. Chesterton
- A Point Of Contact by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Mark Of Cain by Carolyn Wells
- The Leather Funnel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Strangers Latchkey by R. Austin Freeman
- The Red Town by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — The narrative explores deep philosophical themes such as morality, orthodoxy, and the nature of good and evil through a reflective conversation.
- Mystery — The story contains elements of mystery, particularly surrounding the character of the Diabolist and his ultimate fate.
- Psychological Fiction — The text delves into the psychological complexities of the characters, especially in their moral and existential dilemmas.
- Religious Fiction — The narrative addresses religious themes, including the protagonist's journey towards orthodoxy and the moral implications of belief and heresy.
Tags
mystery · detective · crime · supernatural · philosophy · religion · good vs evil · moral dilemmas · suspense · narrative · character study · dark themes