View Full Version : Book 2: THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY by G.K. Chesterton
Yes, I know that elsewhere I'd said I was going to pick a modern novel (this is 1907, I think), but skanky's recent link to novel recommendations introduced me to the idea of this and it sounds so intriguing as to be worth a look (and my choice will come round again, so I'll pick my original idea then).
Never read any Chesterton, either, so it should be interesting. Two things; a) it's not a Father Brown book, and b) it's very very short, just 180 pages or so. Needs to be as you'll probably spend a day or two hunting it down.
cheers
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NottyImp
1st Jul 2003, 11:30
It'll be a new author for me as well. Interesting choice, Amner.
By the way, if you can't track down a copy, there's an online version (http://www.bartleby.com/158/) available.
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Colyngbourne
1st Jul 2003, 16:40
Excellent - I've never read any Chesterton either and I think I'll make use of the Bartleby online offer.
NottyImp
2nd Jul 2003, 12:25
Just picked up a copy from Waterstone's. It starts with a poem, which for a man who enjoys poetry about as much as a pint of warm, flat lager, is a bit off-putting. I can also predict that I am not going to agree with Mr Chesterton's political affiliations. Should be an interesting discussion about this one...
Just found one in the Cambridge library and read the first chapter already. Looks unusual ... but it's mighty slim, isn't it?
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NottyImp
2nd Jul 2003, 20:29
Not as slim as me, mate! :wink:
That's fine by me, a book a month could be a problem if they're too thick.
pandop
3rd Jul 2003, 11:43
marvellous, we have it at work! this means I can have a nice long loan when there are no students to recall it :wink:
:? The begining of July has got away from me and I forgot to check for the new book! Will rush out tomorrow and get it.
The Man Who was Thursday is a brilliant book. I bought it on Friday, and had it finished by Sunday night. Really good it is, but that's as much as I will say now.
Chesterton appears a fascinating fellow. I found a review of a biography about him in a book of Peter Ackroyd's journalism, which was full of praise for the subject. Given that Chesterton was a journalist, critic, biographer, poet AND novelist, Ackroyd's appreciation of him is not perhaps surprising, given his own prolific writing career. I suspect they share similar politics, too.
I have started reading a small collection of Chesterton's Father Brown stories, which you can get for a quid from Penguin Popular Classics. Only halfway through the first story, but it's terribly entertaining stuff. Also, one snippet from the potted biography of GKC on the first page reads:
He was slow and awkward at school, and was described as having a possible future as either an idiot or a genius.
I fear it may be quite impossible to dislike G. K. Chesterton.
A good site in terms of collecting his work together for free is: here (http://www.dur.ac.uk/martin.ward/gkc/), though there is little detail about the man there.
There was a point at the start of the book where I laughed out loud, and I never do that ... but of course, we're not adding anything so crass as opinion until 1st August, are we?
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Sorry about this, but here's another glimpse into Chesterton's odd world:
he (Chesterton) was also noted for his absence of mind, once sending his wife the telegram 'Am at Market Harborough. Where ought I to be?
:lol:
Shoppers
10th Jul 2003, 8:34
Having worked in Market Harborough myself for a brief stint I can empathise!
180 pages you say? Hmmmm......that's more of a pamphlet than a book surely?
Lucoid
16th Jul 2003, 13:23
Though it may be a mere pamphlet in length, I doubt I'll have time to find and read it before the discussion starts, as I've just started reading Zadie Smith's White Teeth, a mighty tome if ever I saw one. Though I suppose I could take a break...
NottyImp
16th Jul 2003, 17:43
Well I'm sorry, Lucoid, but that's just not good enough. :D
columbianus Rex
18th Jul 2003, 7:00
I just bought the "Modern Library Classics" version of TMWWT, and on the cover is a rather peculiar picture taken by the Brown Brothers. It depicts a small cadre of men, dressed in late 19th-early 20th century civilian garb, marching in about three columns and saluting an unseen person. In the foreground stands a police officer, looking away from the columns of gentlemen.
Does anyone know what is being portrayed in this photo? I'm quite perplexed by it. And that vexes me.
amner
18th Jul 2003, 14:37
Finished it last night.
Have you got any more details, columbianus? Do you know if the pic exists anywhere else? I'm rather intrigued. I checked on the Amazon.com website and noticed that at search there comes up with a the same cover as we have on our version (which I quite like incidentally).
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CatKin
18th Jul 2003, 22:50
Hello everyone. I'm a new member and look forward to meeting you all regularly in the Book Group.
I was intrigued by columbianus' cover picture too, amner, and I managed to track it down. Columbianus mentions that it is on the Modern library Classics version and I think the one readily available in UK is the 20th century Classics one.
The MLC Edition can be found on the Amazon.com (USA) site and has to be searched for under the title:
The Man Who Was Thursday:a Nightmare
But after all that I'm still none the wiser about the origin or meaning of the photograph! It does give a nice period, slightly bizarre feel to the book though, which I think is just right.
columbianus Rex
19th Jul 2003, 3:09
It does give a nice period, slightly bizarre feel to the book though, which I think is just right.
Welcome, CatKin! I completely agree with your assessment of that photo--there is a certain eerie, secret-society-ish sense about it.
In addition to amazon.com, I managed to find the cover at the Modern Library Classics website, modernlibrary.com, although it's rather small.
Finished. Its definately one to read straight through without putting down.
columbianus Rex
20th Jul 2003, 8:52
Finished as well. I can't wait for August 1st; I'm as giddy as a school girl hopped up on Altoids!
NottyImp
20th Jul 2003, 9:53
Finished. Its definately one to read straight through without putting down.
I wish I had time to do that :cry:
Finished it as well - discussion ahoy!
Finished. Its definately one to read straight through without putting down.
Quite right, i think not doing so does impact on your enjoyment of it... but that's enough for now...
here's that pic:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0375757910.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Great photo.
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Colyngbourne
21st Jul 2003, 10:27
Finished it in two bites. Waiting for Aug 1st.
NottyImp
21st Jul 2003, 11:10
Interesting picture - from the fact that they are saluting in a fairly typical military fashion, I'd hazard a guess that they're not a bunch of early 20th century anarchists (but then, having read the book we know they needn't be).
The look of the picture to me has more of a feel of an Irish Republican march to it than anything else. I have a diffent edition (House of Stratus), and that has a pastel picture of two gentlemen and a lady in period dress.
amner
21st Jul 2003, 11:15
The look of the picture to me has more of a feel of an Irish Republican march to it than anything else
Funny you should say that, as when I saw it I immediately thought of Dublin's General Post Office in O'Connell Street:
http://www.tourist-information-dublin.co.uk/general-post-office-dublin/gpo.jpg
Probably nothing to do with it, but a bizarre thought.
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Colyngbourne
22nd Jul 2003, 10:14
http://mysite.freeserve.com/AtNorvicum/images/2-picture1.jpg?0.6204947854942579
This is the cover of mine, just acquired last night after I had burnt my eyes reading it all online.
amner
22nd Jul 2003, 10:16
Heyyyy, that's mine too. I like the little depiction of Gogol in the middle.
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Colyngbourne
22nd Jul 2003, 10:17
He has something of Gimli about him, I would say.
amner
22nd Jul 2003, 10:20
I thought it was a Quentin Blake style design when I first picked it up, sadly not.
That's reminded me, mine's due back tomorrow, nice one.
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NottyImp
22nd Jul 2003, 10:23
There's loads of covers on Amazon. Mine is the 5th one down...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/202-1200868-6691007
Clem Feeney
25th Jul 2003, 20:50
I've read it, and what's more I've pretty much decided on book no.3.
Currently re-reading The Man Who Was Thursday, to extend the pleasure.
I'll be back on Aug 1st!
columbianus Rex
27th Jul 2003, 6:43
There's loads of covers on Amazon. Mine is the 5th one down...
This is all well and good, but for God's sake, has anyone discovered the meaning of my edition's cover?!
I can't sleep at night because of this!
amner
28th Jul 2003, 12:12
I'd suggest going here (http://www.brownbrothersusa.com/index.htm) for starters. Interesting that one of the subjects discussed is 'political movements' :)
They may have a catalogue of images. They must surely be able to reference the pic if they've received royalties from the publisher.
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We can start discussing it, ladies and gents. Just go here (http://palimpsest.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=208)
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