The Ballad of the White Horse (Unabridged‪)‬

Published in 1911, The Ballad of the White Horse by G. K. Chesterton is a poem about the deeds of King Alfred the Great. 

The epic ballad tells the story of how the King defeated the invading Danes at the Battle of Ethandun in the Valley of the White Horse, beneath an ancient equine image on the Berkshire hills. Chesterton employs this mysterious figure as a symbol of the traditions that guard and protect humanity. 

The narrative comprises a description of the battle of 878 combined with an allegory of the long struggle between Christianity and the forces of nihilistic paganism. Resonating with sound and movement, the stanzas unfold in waves of mystical visions, battle scenarios and colorful characters within a tapestry of wisdom and eternal truths.