Race with the Devil
Before he was the world's foremost Catholic biographer, Joseph Pearce was a leader of the National Front, a British-nationalist, white-supremacist group. Before he published books highlighting and celebrating the great Catholic cultural tradition, he disseminated literature extolling the virtues of the white race, and calling for the banishment of all non-white from Britain. Pearce and his cohorts were at the center of the racial and nationalist tensions—often violent—that swirled around London in the late-1970s and early 80s. Eventually Pearce became a top member of the National Front, and the editor of its newspaper, The Bulldog. He was a full-time revolutionary. In 1982 he was imprisoned for six months for hate speech, but he came out with more anger, and more resolve. Several years later, he was imprisoned again, this time for a year and it spurred a change in his life. In Race with the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love, Pearce himself takes the reader through his journey from racist revolutionary to Christian, including: the youthful influences that lead him to embrace the National Front and their racist platform, his dark, angry, exhilarating but ultimately empty days as a revolutionary on the front lines, and his imprisonment and subsequent dark night of the soul. He goes on to relate the role that Catholic luminaries such as G. K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc, and C. S. Lewis played in his conversion from racist radical to joyful Christian. And his eventual reception in the Catholic Church. Race with the Devil is one man's incredible journey to Christ, but it also much more. It is a testament to God s hand active among us and the infinite grace that Christ pours out on his people, showing that we can all turn—or return—to Christ and his Church.
This is a true tale of redemption - of one man's life that was mired in misery and malcontent that was enlivened again through the power of goodness, truth and beauty. This is a really worthwhile read in modern times where unbridled anger and hatred needs the power of grace to renew the world.
Inspiration energizes someone else's faith or enthusiasm
Relying on God's power
Choosing the strength of littleness
Adrian Ahlquist interviews Joseph Pearce within the context of a mutual appreciation of G.K. Chesterton. "Joseph Pearce is a Catholic apologist who has written bestselling books on G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Shakespeare. In this episode, Joseph takes us on a journey through his past, his present and his future. The debt he owes to Chesterton plays a large part. We talk about everything from his knowledge on Shakespeare to his interview with Solzhenitsyn to how much he can bench press." Read More
This article by Dwight Longnecker gives an insightful peek at the trajectory of Joseph Pearce's life - one that whets your appetite to read Joseph's gripping autobiography. Read More
Doug Keck welcomes Joseph Pearce to discuss his two books "Race With the Devil ", which discusses his journey from racist to Catholic convert and "CS Lewis and the Catholic Church - Anniversary Edition" and how Lewis' writings influenced many Catholics. Read More
The part of Joseph's life that was characterized by racism, showed a full disregard for the value of each life. His redeemed life shows the opposite.
The involvement of Joseph Pearce in violent nationalist groups disregard the value of anyone's property. His story shows a transformation in this regard.
As editor of a racist propaganda magazine, Joseph showed a deep disregard for the truth. The pivot in his life was dramatic - in that now he is an apologist for truth, goodness and beauty.
Joseph's life was a portrait of rebellion against Divine Providence until the Divine Father overcame him with grace.
