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Father J. Brown is a fictional character created by English novelist G. K. Chesterton, and the main character of the Father Brown (2013) TV series.
Although he is a priest, he has aided in many investigations of gruesome crimes within the village of Kembleford.
Inspector Valentine[1] in Season 1 and his successors, Inspectors Sullivan and Mallory, dislike him due to his sleuthing, but often need him to solve the crimes they are investigating.
Biography
Background
Father Brown's Christian name is unknown in the show. (Chesterton gives the initial "J." but doesn't elaborate further, in "The Eye of Apollo," whereas in "The Sign of the Broken Sword", he is apparently named Paul.) As he is Roman Catholic and served as part of the Gloucester Army Regiment in Flanders[3] in the Great War before becoming a priest[3], he is most likely from the area around Bristol. Having been 17[3] at the time of the two Battles of Ypres, he was born in 1897-98. His life was saved by Corporal Sam Wadey during his time in the trenches. He received the 1914/1914-15, British War, and Victory medals. Serving in the war, he realised his calling into the priesthood[3]. During WWII, he served as an Army chaplain at a mobile field hospital and became quite familiar with the attire of military doctors[2].
Father Brown cannot stand hypocrisy and becomes uncharacteristically angry when someone dares to use religion/God as justification for wrongdoing.[1]
| “ | God is not your Scapegoat! | ” |
–Father Brown, The Hammer of God | ||
He also becomes angry when the Inspectors allow other factors to influence their investigations to the detriment of justice.
Unusual for a Catholic priest in the predominantly Protestant England, he does not wear a pellegrina (wearing it only on formal occasions[4]) or fascia that would easily set him apart from Church of England clergy, opting instead for the simplest version of a priest's cassock, together with a Saturno hat and an old, black umbrella with a bamboo hook handle that he is rarely seen without[1]. Under the cassock, he wears an anthracite shirt with detachable Roman collar and trousers with red and black suspenders[3]. For cold weather, he might don a black tabarro cape.
Father Brown does not own a car, doing most of his pastoral duties either on foot or by means of a bicycle he has dubbed Bucephalus.
Relationships
Mrs McCarthy
The secretary for the parish of St Mary's, Mrs McCarthy keeps the office, church, and subsequently Father Brown in working order. He enjoys her fine cooking, as she is known as one of the best cooks in the Cotswolds, and Mrs M always makes sure he is fed. She even goes so far as to prepare a second dish for lunch ahead of time, knowing that Susie will have made something less than appetising if the dish prepared isn't Polish in origin.
Despite her gossip going against their religion, Father Brown often gleans useful information from Mrs M's tittle-tattle or "community wisdom". Still, he is not afraid to chastise her when her snooping and gossip came from a malicious place.
Lady Felicia Montague
The Countess of Montague appreciates and respects Father Brown's sleuthing ability and principled manner. Her connections as a peer of the realm, when used judiciously, often provide the team with access to the scene of the crime or impending crime.
Sid Carter
Sid is Lady Felicia's chauffeur and occasional petty criminal. Sid and Father Brown are very close friends. They tend to get up to mischief together, and Father Brown often relies on Sid's aid to catch criminals.
Flambeau
Flambeau is a master thief who often targets priceless art and relics owned by the Catholic church. After their first meeting, the Father attempts to make Flambeau confess and reform. He believes completely that anyone, even Flambeau, can be brought to God. Other characters often suggest this makes him blind to Flambeau's faults. They eventually become close friends, with the Father being the only person Flambeau trusts completely to help him. The Father has been manipulated or tricked by Flambeau on several occasions.
Bunty Windermere
Mrs Devine
When Mrs McCarthy leaves, he initially hires a similar replacement but decides that someone with a more tolerant view would be better for him and for Kembleford and therefore hires Mrs Devine. He is, however, reluctant to make use of her offers to transport him in her Hercules, due to her driving style. He finds her wide-reaching connections to other villagers, through the Kembleford Players, helpful in their investigations.
Brenda Palmer
Differences to the short stories
- In the short stories, Father Brown is described as a small man, not much larger than a child, with a round face and brown hair, while Mark Williams is a tall man with greying red hair.
- Due to the new series playing in the early to late 50s as opposed to from 1911 to 1936, Father Brown is a veteran of both World Wars, having served as part of the Gloucester Army Regiment, as a soldier in the First and as an Army Chaplain in the Second.
Trivia
- Father Brown is terrified of heights and is forced to face his fear in several episodes.
Links
Father Brown is a well-known figure, as he has a page not only on Wikipedia, but also on at least three other Fandom projects as well as his own TV Tropes page!
- All the Tropes wiki: Father Brown
- Public Domain Super Heroes wiki: Father Brown
- Pop-culture wiki: Father Brown
- TV Tropes: Father Brown (2013 series)
References
| Characters |
|---|
| Father Brown Mrs McCarthy Lady Felicia Montague Sid Carter Susie Jasinski |