The Man Who Was Thursday

British writer GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON (1874-1936) expounded prolifically about his wide-ranging philosophies-he is impossible to categorize as liberal or conservative for instance-across a wide variety of avenues: he was a literary critic historian playwright novelist columnist and poet. His witty humorous style earned him the title of the prince of paradox and his works-80 books and nearly 4000 essays-remain among the most beloved in the English language Considered by many readers to be his best work this 1908 novel is an outrageous satire about a club of gentlemen in London at the turn of the 20th century who have vowed to destroy the world. Subtitled A Nightmare and bursting with Chestertons trademark wit and abundant in surprising metaphors about religion nature and human civilization itself it is a philosophical and ironic wonder a delight to read and an even greater delight to ponder.