Dorothy Collins, G.K. Cheston's secretary writes in the book that the play THE SURPRISE -- a religious allegory of omnipotence and free will -- was written in 1932, but was set aside and never performed in Chesterton's lifetime. It was published posthmously in 1952 in England, and 1953 in the U.S. Chesterton, (1974-1936) published more than 100 books, but is best known for his series about the Priest-Detective, Father Brown.