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Race with the Devil
Joseph Pearce is foremost Catholic biographer of our time, but it wasn't always so.
Imagine discovering God for the first time in the confines of a jail cell. Imagine spending the first half your life amidst the seedy underground of the white supremacy movement before becoming one of the foremost Religious scholars in the world.
Imagine being converted by the writings of Chesterton, and years later writing a biography on him. Joseph Pearce doesn't have to imagine it - he lived it.
Growing up on the rough streets of Dagenham, England, Joseph Pearce was thrown into a life that led anywhere but to God and salvation. A world of hate and violence was all he knew, until one day he picked up the writings of G.K Chesterton and everything changed.
"In Race With the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love" take a journey through the peaks and valleys of one of the most fascinating conversion stories of our time, written first-hand by Pearce himself.
Even those who are unfamiliar with him will not be able to put the book down!
Imagine discovering God for the first time in the confines of a jail cell. Imagine spending the first half your life amidst the seedy underground of the white supremacy movement before becoming one of the foremost Religious scholars in the world.
Imagine being converted by the writings of Chesterton, and years later writing a biography on him. Joseph Pearce doesn't have to imagine it - he lived it.
Growing up on the rough streets of Dagenham, England, Joseph Pearce was thrown into a life that led anywhere but to God and salvation. A world of hate and violence was all he knew, until one day he picked up the writings of G.K Chesterton and everything changed.
"In Race With the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love" take a journey through the peaks and valleys of one of the most fascinating conversion stories of our time, written first-hand by Pearce himself.
Even those who are unfamiliar with him will not be able to put the book down!
264 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
About the author
Joseph Pearce
149 books246 followersJoseph Pearce (born 1961) is an English-born writer, and as of 2004 Writer in Residence and Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida; previously he had a comparable position, from 2001, at Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He is known for a number of literary biographies, many of Catholic figures. Formerly aligned with the National Front, a white nationalist political party, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1989, repudiated his earlier views, and now writes from a Catholic perspective. He is a co-editor of the St. Austin Review and editor-in-chief of Sapientia Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 20, 2020
I heard Mr. Pearce speak at a retreat, and I enjoyed his talk on Tolkien and Catholicism so much that I decided to buy his book – Race with the Devil. After reading it, I became more impressed with the author than ever. Race with the Devil is an outstandingly honest account of his years thinking as a racist, through his conversion years and journeyed into his current rational-love orientated life. There are times when I wonder, (much like everyone else—I suppose) if people can ever really change. Mr. Pearce answers this question unequivocally. The metamorphosis from his youth to his adulthood is transformative not only for the author but for the reader as well. I found myself repelled by his early life and the culture that he lived in, but before the end of the book, I found myself admitting the humanity of the situation, the honest truth that Mr. Pearce was reflecting in the dark side of humanity and also the soul's yearning be complete, good, and just. Overall, the book was a clarion call. There is more that haunts humanity than we like to admit, and in facing that, we can transform not only ourselves but humanity as a whole.
September 9, 2013
Over the years I have heard bits and pieces of author and literary critic Joseph Pearce’s conversion story. I always wanted to hear more since the basic details seemed so wild. I usually find conversion stories as a genre fascinating since while there are similarities in each one, there is also a uniqueness to the individual. Some conversion stories seem much more dramatic such as St. Paul who went from persecutor to Apostle. Joseph Pearce’s conversion story certainly has those striking elements especially how radical his previous convictions were.
So I was quite delighted when I saw that Saint Benedict Press was coming out with Race With the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love. For those who do not know anything about his conversion story the subtitle gives some idea.
What surprised me in this book was just how involved Joseph Pearce had been involved in racist and anti-Catholic movements. He was not just on the periphery of these movements, but was an organizer of them. An editor of the newspaper for the National Front and his involvement from the age of fourteen on is hard to fathom. As a reader you want to come to understand how a young man could turn down this road of racist hate and to devote his life to it.
His father’s racism certainly played a part in this and was an influence. One of the things I loved most about this book was the way people in Joseph Pearce’s life were described. This was especially true in regards to his father’s who he wrote about lovingly, flaws and all. His father was full of contradictions being vocally racist and anti-Catholic he could as the author describes “genuinely love his fellow man.” I can totally understand this. While in the Navy I only met a couple of vocal racists. One I worked with tried to convince me that the music of Jimi Hendrix was actually written and performed by Robin Trower. He had many such crazy racist and misogynist opinions, but when it came to working with others he treated them quite decently.
His portrayal of the complexities of his father really carries on throughout the book regarding the intricacies of the people he worked with in such evil movements. You see the friendships he developed through his eyes and come to understand something more about them than just the corrupting worldview they inhabited. This is a story of redemption and the hope for the redemption of others.
The various chapters first deal with his dissent into racism and the various influences and philosophies that he thought confirmed his choices. His writing put him at the center of the National Front which he worked for full time. Soccer hooliganism also became an outlet for his racial hatred. This carried on to later becoming involved in the Troubles in Northern Ireland supporting the Protestant loyalists against the hated Catholics. His attempt to stir up even more trouble resulted in what he called “flirting with terrorism.” As a reaction to “Rock against racism” he started “Rock against Communism” which was largely a skinhead phenomenon as he describes. He was very involved in promoting this effort along with writing about this music in every issue of the Bulldog. He was jailed twice under the Race Relations Act because of his writings. The first time he was jailed he left just as firm in his convictions as when he entered and he and others saw him as a martyr to the cause. By the time he went back to jail his ideas were experiencing a transformation. Retaining his racism while trying to hold in tension other things he was learning.
It was these other literary influences that were opening him up. G.K. Chesterton was one of these great influences and many others followed including Belloc and C.S. Lewis. Yet at first he was only opening himself up to what he found compatible with his viewpoint especially as regard their social vision and alternative to big government.
"Even AS Chesterton, Belloc and Lewis were working their unseen and grace-filled magic, enlightening my mind and healing my heart imperceptibly, I continued to pursue the paths of radical politics as if nothing was changing.
I think many converts can identify with this in some respect. Being opened to something higher while holding to our previous opinions. Looking back it becomes hard to see how we could hold such things in tension not seeing the contradictions.
Yet the seeds were planted and by the time he finished his second prison sentence he was not the same man who had served the first on. His path out of racism and into the Catholic Church was now on a slow course as his changing attitude was putting him at odds with his personal relationships.
This is such a deeply satisfying biography and conversion story. If I would have seen him as a young man I would have written him off as unredeemable scum. Like the racists it is easy to group people and just write them off. Our hatred for such a philosophy translates to hatred of the person with no willing of the good towards them. In this book he describes a couple of encounters that deeply affected him in regards to people that treated him in a manor that transcended the way he acted and appeared. This is such an unlikely story of racist to biographer and literary critic and such an insightful writer. Yet the movement of grace is wonderful to behold.
So I was quite delighted when I saw that Saint Benedict Press was coming out with Race With the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love. For those who do not know anything about his conversion story the subtitle gives some idea.
What surprised me in this book was just how involved Joseph Pearce had been involved in racist and anti-Catholic movements. He was not just on the periphery of these movements, but was an organizer of them. An editor of the newspaper for the National Front and his involvement from the age of fourteen on is hard to fathom. As a reader you want to come to understand how a young man could turn down this road of racist hate and to devote his life to it.
His father’s racism certainly played a part in this and was an influence. One of the things I loved most about this book was the way people in Joseph Pearce’s life were described. This was especially true in regards to his father’s who he wrote about lovingly, flaws and all. His father was full of contradictions being vocally racist and anti-Catholic he could as the author describes “genuinely love his fellow man.” I can totally understand this. While in the Navy I only met a couple of vocal racists. One I worked with tried to convince me that the music of Jimi Hendrix was actually written and performed by Robin Trower. He had many such crazy racist and misogynist opinions, but when it came to working with others he treated them quite decently.
His portrayal of the complexities of his father really carries on throughout the book regarding the intricacies of the people he worked with in such evil movements. You see the friendships he developed through his eyes and come to understand something more about them than just the corrupting worldview they inhabited. This is a story of redemption and the hope for the redemption of others.
The various chapters first deal with his dissent into racism and the various influences and philosophies that he thought confirmed his choices. His writing put him at the center of the National Front which he worked for full time. Soccer hooliganism also became an outlet for his racial hatred. This carried on to later becoming involved in the Troubles in Northern Ireland supporting the Protestant loyalists against the hated Catholics. His attempt to stir up even more trouble resulted in what he called “flirting with terrorism.” As a reaction to “Rock against racism” he started “Rock against Communism” which was largely a skinhead phenomenon as he describes. He was very involved in promoting this effort along with writing about this music in every issue of the Bulldog. He was jailed twice under the Race Relations Act because of his writings. The first time he was jailed he left just as firm in his convictions as when he entered and he and others saw him as a martyr to the cause. By the time he went back to jail his ideas were experiencing a transformation. Retaining his racism while trying to hold in tension other things he was learning.
It was these other literary influences that were opening him up. G.K. Chesterton was one of these great influences and many others followed including Belloc and C.S. Lewis. Yet at first he was only opening himself up to what he found compatible with his viewpoint especially as regard their social vision and alternative to big government.
"Even AS Chesterton, Belloc and Lewis were working their unseen and grace-filled magic, enlightening my mind and healing my heart imperceptibly, I continued to pursue the paths of radical politics as if nothing was changing.
I think many converts can identify with this in some respect. Being opened to something higher while holding to our previous opinions. Looking back it becomes hard to see how we could hold such things in tension not seeing the contradictions.
Yet the seeds were planted and by the time he finished his second prison sentence he was not the same man who had served the first on. His path out of racism and into the Catholic Church was now on a slow course as his changing attitude was putting him at odds with his personal relationships.
This is such a deeply satisfying biography and conversion story. If I would have seen him as a young man I would have written him off as unredeemable scum. Like the racists it is easy to group people and just write them off. Our hatred for such a philosophy translates to hatred of the person with no willing of the good towards them. In this book he describes a couple of encounters that deeply affected him in regards to people that treated him in a manor that transcended the way he acted and appeared. This is such an unlikely story of racist to biographer and literary critic and such an insightful writer. Yet the movement of grace is wonderful to behold.
December 3, 2014
How does a neo-Nazi become a Catholic literary critic? An act of God? Joseph Pearce would surely make the claim, his life having become a miserable shambles before he heard the booming voice of Gilbert Keith Chesterton from beyond the grave (albiet through books). In his youth, Joe Pearce was an influential white supremacist, rising through the ranks of the National Front through his one-man newsletter, Bulldog. Building success by appealing to football hooligans and punk rockers, it caught the attention of not only the National Front, but of the British government, which twice threw Pearce into prison for inciting racial hatred. His first time in chains only deepened Pearce's conviction that the state was out to ruin the English race; by his second imprisonment, Pearce was already in turmoil, already doubting the path he had chosen. Turning prison into a spiritual retreat, he emerged from bars and from his own dark night of the soul to a new life.
In his new life, Joseph Pearce is a distinguished author and scholar, having held positions at institutions like Ave Marie University, Thomas More College, and Aquinas College. He has produced not only biographies of men like G.K. Chesterton and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, but works that delve into the deeper meanings of The Lord of the Rings and Shakespeare. This hunger to know the human soul through literature is partially responsible for Pearce's salvation. Although as a teenager he was caught up in reaction against the upswell of immigration, and the enervating influence of modernist politics, he found little to build on there. His life was filled with passion as he roamed the streets looking for migrant gangs or football clubs to mix it up with, and even some purpose as he became a shaper of the nationalist thinking, but pessimism was a bitter gall to sallow. Works like Orwell's 1984 diverted his course from fascism, awaking him to the danger of an all-power state, but unsettled him with its dark vision of Winston Smith's defeat, the spirit of humanity crushed underfoot. Pearce could not live with it, but an abiding thirst for literature would offer him glimpses of a better world -- particularly Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago, a retelling of the author's years spent in the Soviet prison-camp system, which he survived, humanity intact.
Pearce spent four hours a day reading on trains as he traveled for his duties with the National Front, but literature took him places he surely never meant to go, like Rome. So against popery was Pearce that he traveled to northern Ireland to work with the Ulster Loyalists and joined the Orange Orange, dedicated to ensuring Protestant supremacy over Irish Catholic culture. As much as Pearce despised the Catholic church, he had a grudging respect for John Paul II’s fight against the Soviet system. It was G.K. Chesterton who coaxed him into the Tiber, however, by presenting an argument against the centralizing tendencies of both capitalism and socialism. Chesterton offered a third way in which the ownership of the means of production – of shops, farms, tools, and the like – is widely as distributed as possible. Pearce, having grown up in ‘the shire’, a quiet arcadian community far removed from much of modernity, saw in Chesterton an argument for what he longed for. Pearce’s love for his country, warped by racism, was redeemed by Chesterton, refashioned into ideals of peaceful cooperation. Delighting in Chesterton’s personality, Pearce read everything he could by the man, and through his study came to appreciate the Catholic faith and its transcendent moral order that shed insight on not only personal morality, but our socio-economic structure.
Race with the Devil is a powerful story human redemption, part biography and part literary reflection. While the aspects on British culture were fascinating in themselves, particularly the political loyalties of football clubs and musical subcultures, Pearce's journey itself is the wonder. Consider how powerful ethnic nationalism can be, that potent mix of primal clannishness and modern ideology; it intoxicates both the brain and the blood. Yet Pearce resisted. Having approached the abyss, he stepped back. Despite all of the anger and fear he subjected himself to, there still remained some shades of grace, memories of that childhood steeped in ordinary decency. When racial turmoil still fills American papers, it is a comforting notion that there still remains some escape route to sanity and healing.
Race is an extraordinary read, a reminder that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.
In his new life, Joseph Pearce is a distinguished author and scholar, having held positions at institutions like Ave Marie University, Thomas More College, and Aquinas College. He has produced not only biographies of men like G.K. Chesterton and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, but works that delve into the deeper meanings of The Lord of the Rings and Shakespeare. This hunger to know the human soul through literature is partially responsible for Pearce's salvation. Although as a teenager he was caught up in reaction against the upswell of immigration, and the enervating influence of modernist politics, he found little to build on there. His life was filled with passion as he roamed the streets looking for migrant gangs or football clubs to mix it up with, and even some purpose as he became a shaper of the nationalist thinking, but pessimism was a bitter gall to sallow. Works like Orwell's 1984 diverted his course from fascism, awaking him to the danger of an all-power state, but unsettled him with its dark vision of Winston Smith's defeat, the spirit of humanity crushed underfoot. Pearce could not live with it, but an abiding thirst for literature would offer him glimpses of a better world -- particularly Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago, a retelling of the author's years spent in the Soviet prison-camp system, which he survived, humanity intact.
Pearce spent four hours a day reading on trains as he traveled for his duties with the National Front, but literature took him places he surely never meant to go, like Rome. So against popery was Pearce that he traveled to northern Ireland to work with the Ulster Loyalists and joined the Orange Orange, dedicated to ensuring Protestant supremacy over Irish Catholic culture. As much as Pearce despised the Catholic church, he had a grudging respect for John Paul II’s fight against the Soviet system. It was G.K. Chesterton who coaxed him into the Tiber, however, by presenting an argument against the centralizing tendencies of both capitalism and socialism. Chesterton offered a third way in which the ownership of the means of production – of shops, farms, tools, and the like – is widely as distributed as possible. Pearce, having grown up in ‘the shire’, a quiet arcadian community far removed from much of modernity, saw in Chesterton an argument for what he longed for. Pearce’s love for his country, warped by racism, was redeemed by Chesterton, refashioned into ideals of peaceful cooperation. Delighting in Chesterton’s personality, Pearce read everything he could by the man, and through his study came to appreciate the Catholic faith and its transcendent moral order that shed insight on not only personal morality, but our socio-economic structure.
Race with the Devil is a powerful story human redemption, part biography and part literary reflection. While the aspects on British culture were fascinating in themselves, particularly the political loyalties of football clubs and musical subcultures, Pearce's journey itself is the wonder. Consider how powerful ethnic nationalism can be, that potent mix of primal clannishness and modern ideology; it intoxicates both the brain and the blood. Yet Pearce resisted. Having approached the abyss, he stepped back. Despite all of the anger and fear he subjected himself to, there still remained some shades of grace, memories of that childhood steeped in ordinary decency. When racial turmoil still fills American papers, it is a comforting notion that there still remains some escape route to sanity and healing.
Race is an extraordinary read, a reminder that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.
September 23, 2013
Thank you, Joseph Pearce for your honesty in sharing your conversion story with us. A powerful, oft disturbing, emotional and beautifully written book, "warts 'n' all"... although those warts finally fade and heal into the beautiful complexion of Truth... ***** stars
September 20, 2013
Excellent memoir and conversion story. A 5 star volume in content and writing, but docked a point (perhaps unfairly) for brevity. What is written is so engaging I wanted more.
April 6, 2024
It’s rare to find a testimony like this one, that of a former white supremacist turned Catholic literary scholar. A great read, well written and interesting.
January 16, 2014
Joseph Pearce writes with stark honesty about his racist past. I found it fascinating to read about his deep involvement in extremist radical political groups whose underlying thrust was to radically push back against the influx of foreign immigration that he saw as a threat to the basic foundation of white Anglo Saxon Britain ... from the Irish in the North to the Muslim and Black elements that began to flow into Britain. His journey from radical racism to the light of Christ was a series of steps that began with several people whose compassion and kindness in the face of his own hatred deeply affected him, as well as the truths he encountered as he began to read such Christian authors as C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and G.K. Chesterton, all who had a profound effect on him intellectually and spiritually. I could really connect with the enlightenment he began to experience when reading these authors as they have all deeply affected my own life. His eventual movement toward and eventual reception in the Roman Catholic Church was profoundly moving.
March 26, 2018
An honest self portrait of Joseph Pearce’s turbulent life.
The author is honest and courageously writes about his past as an active, full time revolutionary, top member of the National Front, a British nationalist, white supremacist group. He was also the editor of its paper, ‘The Bulldog’. He was imprisoned in 1982 and again years later for hate speech. Pearce takes the reader through his incredible journey from a racist revolutionary to his conversion to Christianity. This book gives hope and inspiration that people can change for the better. It is a testament of God’s infinite grace and love for each one of us. Great read and very moving.
The author is honest and courageously writes about his past as an active, full time revolutionary, top member of the National Front, a British nationalist, white supremacist group. He was also the editor of its paper, ‘The Bulldog’. He was imprisoned in 1982 and again years later for hate speech. Pearce takes the reader through his incredible journey from a racist revolutionary to his conversion to Christianity. This book gives hope and inspiration that people can change for the better. It is a testament of God’s infinite grace and love for each one of us. Great read and very moving.
May 6, 2018
This is a very thoughtful and insightful journey of Joseph's journey from youth-filled racial hatred to one where he found peace and rational love in the Catholic Church.
Not exactly a biography per say, it's his telling of his conversion from hatred to love. He explores his life through various lenses of his life - his childhood, his father, his schooling, his time in prison, his discovery of Chesterton, and on. He lays out each part of his life as a puzzle, and slowly adds each piece until the picture is revealed.
This is an enjoyable journey, and well worth the read.
Not exactly a biography per say, it's his telling of his conversion from hatred to love. He explores his life through various lenses of his life - his childhood, his father, his schooling, his time in prison, his discovery of Chesterton, and on. He lays out each part of his life as a puzzle, and slowly adds each piece until the picture is revealed.
This is an enjoyable journey, and well worth the read.
August 2, 2020
Joseph Pearce is an interesting, intelligent man with a unique conversion story. I would have given this book a higher rating if he did not jump around with stories from different later dates to earlier ones then again to later. His stories are vividly described with incredible use of language. He does have a way with words. I would like to read some of his biographies.
I have enjoyed listening to his talks on Youtube.com. Look them up as there are quite a lot of good talks there.
I have enjoyed listening to his talks on Youtube.com. Look them up as there are quite a lot of good talks there.
August 9, 2016
Wonderful conversion story, written without arrogance or smugness. Absolutely not a self-serving account. Have enjoyed Pearce's literary criticism, but did not know his backstory. In this book he offers a no-excuses examination of his past as an activist and supporter of racist ideology. His call to conversion is subtle, insistent, and finally epiphanic.
November 6, 2016
Wow. I have the good fortune to be acquainted with Mr. Pearce, and can truthfully say that I was amazed by his story. He is such a different person than he characterizes his pre-conversion life. God is good and works through us all, no matter our past. We just need to let
God in and he will make everything new.
January 19, 2015
Interesting book. However it wasn't until three quarters of the way through the book that he mentioned Jesus and I couldn't find once where he talked about the Bible in relation to his conversion. Felt like something was missing.
July 16, 2020
Here’s a tale I happened upon while looking through my public library app. I put another book on hold to read this one. Am I glad I did! Pearce is a gifted writer, and adventurous reader. I particularly enjoyed his explanation of so many books that changed his mind and heart! They’re on my reading list now. The book could only have been improved by possibly a deeper explanation of the politics and culture of Britain’s extreme right. Yet, that could be my own desire for the “gory details”, which in a more sacred light, could be seen as wallowing around in the muck of human frailty and sin. So in a sense I get that he writes of these primarily “between the lines”. Wonderful story, all told. Needed some Kleenex at the end. Also, as a Protestant Evangelical it is always fun to read of an evangelical Catholic. The many devout Catholics will be annoyed by this, but when you’ve grown up around nominal/cultural Catholics it’s always refreshing to meet those who are truly in love with Christ. I think we can build bridges on that, even if so many things between us are mysterious and confusing
August 23, 2023
Pearce has an interesting conversion story -- he's a former white supremacist, imprisoned twice in England for his writings. I've read several of his books written after his conversion, such as "Literary Converts," and "Old Thunder" (Hilaire Belloc biography). Race with the Devil," though, reads as if it is a draft that needs to be edited and polished. It meanders; it drags.
I wish someone had advised Pearce not to include stories about other people, such as former friends, whom he meets up with again after his conversion while they are still living sad, racist little lives. (Or not so little -- one is a Minister of Parliament, and Pearce names him.) The point is, though, that these vignettes just sound uncharitable. I'm glad for Pearce to have escaped that world -- and I'm sure he didn't mean to crow about those who are still there -- but the tone just isn't quite right.
I wish someone had advised Pearce not to include stories about other people, such as former friends, whom he meets up with again after his conversion while they are still living sad, racist little lives. (Or not so little -- one is a Minister of Parliament, and Pearce names him.) The point is, though, that these vignettes just sound uncharitable. I'm glad for Pearce to have escaped that world -- and I'm sure he didn't mean to crow about those who are still there -- but the tone just isn't quite right.
November 22, 2018
This autobiography tells the story of an English man who became a white supremacist as a teenager, and then converted to Catholicism while in jail. It is well-written, and the author has obviously thought a lot about his life and the decisions that he made. It provides insight into a view of the world that is unfamiliar to most people. However, I thought that the author showed signs of a generalized nostalgia that I've seen in many religious and conservative authors, that I think tends to be a dead end.
August 23, 2023
I have admired this author for years, and have been curious about his conversion story. Most of the book is about his pre-conversion years, which is difficult for me to relate to considering the depths of his involvement in various racist groups in the UK. I skimmed through some sections. My favorite parts of the book are the last chapter and the postscript. His story gives me so much hope and is a good reminder that God never stops loving us or pursuing our hearts, no matter how far we stray from him.
February 20, 2021
So glad that Joseph Pearce has written his extraordinary life story, really rewarding and interesting read, a brilliant author.
I first encountered Pearce on Youtube 'the Journey Home network' that I watch a lot. He inspired me to re-read Tolkien. In the past year I got a new library of books with Pearce's favourites, like C.S. Lewis, Chesterton, more Tolkien etc, mostly inspired by Pearce's suggestions, classics I haven't ever read before.
I first encountered Pearce on Youtube 'the Journey Home network' that I watch a lot. He inspired me to re-read Tolkien. In the past year I got a new library of books with Pearce's favourites, like C.S. Lewis, Chesterton, more Tolkien etc, mostly inspired by Pearce's suggestions, classics I haven't ever read before.
November 25, 2019
This is probably one of the best autobiographies I have read. It reads like a novel and outlines Pearce’s life from “Racial Hatred to Rational Love”.
The journey is illustrated with his living and with his literary companions. We read about his involvement with the National Front, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his prison sentences. A thoroughly enjoyable book.
The journey is illustrated with his living and with his literary companions. We read about his involvement with the National Front, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his prison sentences. A thoroughly enjoyable book.
April 14, 2023
Una estupenda novela autobiográfica que narra con sencillez la historia de una conversión emocionante.
Joseph Pearce sorprende con un escrito sin ningún tapujo, sin ningún disfraz de lo que fue su verdadera vida en el Frente Nacional del Reino Unido.
Cinco estrellas para una de las conversiones al catolicismo más apasionantes que he leído.
Joseph Pearce sorprende con un escrito sin ningún tapujo, sin ningún disfraz de lo que fue su verdadera vida en el Frente Nacional del Reino Unido.
Cinco estrellas para una de las conversiones al catolicismo más apasionantes que he leído.
December 31, 2023
Not what I expected. So interesting. Delves into many worlds completely foreign to me. Sometimes hard to follow for that reason (although, it could've been because I was listening to it while sick and kept falling asleep 🤪). Recommended if for no other reason than to see people outside stereotypes. The road to Christ is never what we expect.
July 26, 2021
What a wonderful gift Joseph Pearce is as he bares his heart in his writing. I devoured this book in a few days because of his gripping story—from a Nazi to a devout Catholic ♥️
I sincerely hope I get to meet him this weekend at the Chesterton Conference 🥰
I sincerely hope I get to meet him this weekend at the Chesterton Conference 🥰
December 28, 2019
Race with the devil is really fascinating look at the life of Joseph Pearce, a neo-nazi thug and hater who turned his life to the God. Nothing is impossible to God!
July 5, 2020
Espectacular testimonio de conversión. Conocía los libros de Joseph Pearce, pero no tenía ni idea de que su vida había sido tan apasionante. Muy recomendable.
April 13, 2022
So so so beautifully written, I loved this book so much and it really helped answer questions that had been stuck on for some time
October 4, 2022
Type of book that people like if they seek it out. If you aren’t interested in the beginning, you will never be interested.
August 17, 2023
Imprescindible autobiografía que permite comprender la agudeza que Joseph Pierce exhibe en las biografías que ha escrito.
Conmovedora historia.
Conmovedora historia.
November 7, 2023
Interesting read for seeing God’s grace in action.
February 11, 2020
In recent years the Catholic book market has been somewhat flooded with conversion stories. Heart-warming accounts those who have made journey to ‘Rome Sweet Home' have been put out to be read primarily by the Faithful as part of a renaissance in Catholic apologetics. Edifying as they are, there are only so many spiritual journeys one can read before they start to become slightly monotonous. On stumbling across ‘Race with the Devil’ I had to ask if there was a need for it. Won’t it simply blend in with the rest? I’m glad I put these reservations to one side and bought it. I found an account that firmly held my attention and, if anything, left me wanted to know more about Joseph Pearce’s journey from white-supremacist Nationalism to the Catholic Church.
I first encountered Joseph Pearce through his excellent books on Catholic literary figures and his occasional articles in the British weekly ‘Catholic Herald’. He’s an academic with a gift for writing passionately about his subjects, and I’ve learned a great deal about the Catholic influence on some of our greatest literary figures as well as their influence on Catholic culture. I was not aware that his talents were once employed for a rather different cause as the youthful editor of the National Front’s newspaper, Bulldog. For those unfamiliar with the National Front it is a far-Right British Nationalist Party whose heydays in the 1970s saw it espouse white supremacy, neo-Nazism and fierce Loyalist anti-Catholicism. Pearce’s writings for Bulldog saw him imprisoned twice for inciting racial hatred.
The move from hatred to Gospel love is both harrowing and moving story. Pearce’s account of how as a young lad he got involved with the far-Right is in many ways typical and identifiable: young, angry and seeking a cause. His good mind and literary and non-literary skills eventually saw him become a main player in British Nationalism, juggling his time between writing hate, street-fighting with anti-fascists and heavy drinking. His dislike of Catholicism, ingrained in traditional English prejudice, was intensified by his involvement with the Orange Order, whose infamous 12th July parade in Northern Ireland he annually attended. That some of his associates were willing to murder for their cause is made obvious by one particularly uncomfortable incident, and reveals exactly the sort of crowd Pearce was mixed up with.
The journey from that place to Holy Mother Church is told as being a long and painful one. There is no Road to Damascus movement. Unexpected acts of kindness from perceived enemies, charity bestowed on him by a priest and, most significantly, an introduction to G K Chesterton at a moment when Pearce’s life was spiralling uncontrollably downwards, were the lifelines thrown to him to escape a life of hatred and embrace Gospel love. There is some talk in the Church today about Chesterton being made a Saint. His intercession, in writing and perhaps in prayer, were certainly efficacious in this conversion.
This is a conversion story that demonstrates the power of the Gospel message against hatred. With young men still being drawn to extremism of various kinds, this is a conversion story that demands to be read
I first encountered Joseph Pearce through his excellent books on Catholic literary figures and his occasional articles in the British weekly ‘Catholic Herald’. He’s an academic with a gift for writing passionately about his subjects, and I’ve learned a great deal about the Catholic influence on some of our greatest literary figures as well as their influence on Catholic culture. I was not aware that his talents were once employed for a rather different cause as the youthful editor of the National Front’s newspaper, Bulldog. For those unfamiliar with the National Front it is a far-Right British Nationalist Party whose heydays in the 1970s saw it espouse white supremacy, neo-Nazism and fierce Loyalist anti-Catholicism. Pearce’s writings for Bulldog saw him imprisoned twice for inciting racial hatred.
The move from hatred to Gospel love is both harrowing and moving story. Pearce’s account of how as a young lad he got involved with the far-Right is in many ways typical and identifiable: young, angry and seeking a cause. His good mind and literary and non-literary skills eventually saw him become a main player in British Nationalism, juggling his time between writing hate, street-fighting with anti-fascists and heavy drinking. His dislike of Catholicism, ingrained in traditional English prejudice, was intensified by his involvement with the Orange Order, whose infamous 12th July parade in Northern Ireland he annually attended. That some of his associates were willing to murder for their cause is made obvious by one particularly uncomfortable incident, and reveals exactly the sort of crowd Pearce was mixed up with.
The journey from that place to Holy Mother Church is told as being a long and painful one. There is no Road to Damascus movement. Unexpected acts of kindness from perceived enemies, charity bestowed on him by a priest and, most significantly, an introduction to G K Chesterton at a moment when Pearce’s life was spiralling uncontrollably downwards, were the lifelines thrown to him to escape a life of hatred and embrace Gospel love. There is some talk in the Church today about Chesterton being made a Saint. His intercession, in writing and perhaps in prayer, were certainly efficacious in this conversion.
This is a conversion story that demonstrates the power of the Gospel message against hatred. With young men still being drawn to extremism of various kinds, this is a conversion story that demands to be read
February 17, 2017
Very well written and very enjoyable.
Changing the world of the National Front to the Catholic one is very good news.
As a catholic is also very encouraging and make me very happy.
Well done Joseph and i hope it has been for the good.
Changing the world of the National Front to the Catholic one is very good news.
As a catholic is also very encouraging and make me very happy.
Well done Joseph and i hope it has been for the good.
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