The Man Who Was Thursday

The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G.K. Chesterton, 199 pages

Once upon a time in London, two poets get into a philosophical argument about anarchy, resulting in one bringing the other to a clandestine meeting of anarchists who are electing a member to fill a position on the board of a worldwide organization devoted to destroying the constructs of society. The outsider, Syme, is elected to the board, and begins a whirlwind thrilling (and, more often than not, terrifying) adventure with six mysterious men, who go by pseudonyms named after the days of the week.

I picked up this book on the recommendation of Neil Gaiman, who mentions it in his book of essays, The View from the Cheap Seats. Upon reading The Man Who Was Thursday, it is easy to see Chesterton's influences on Gaiman; you could almost call Chesterton's book Gaimanesque, except, of course for the fact that The Man Who Was Thursday far predates any of Gaiman's work (it was originally published in 1907!). Anyway, it's an entertaining book that offers plenty of twists and thrills, as well as meditations on society, religion, and humanity. In other words, it's a perfect read for fans of Gaiman.