Thursday
October 8th 2006 12:01
After finding someone else on here who likes one of my favourite authors, GK Chesterton (his blog is over at wordophilia.com) I decided to post on one of my favourite works by this writer. The Man Who Was Thursday. Warning, this has a few spoilers. If you don't want a little bit of the book spoiled, go out and buy it. Honestly though, they aren't that bad but I thought it best to warn you.
The book opens easily, painting a scene that is easy to see. It also doesn't let you finish a page without reading a poeticly smart assed remark. For example "Even if the people were not "artists," the whole was nevertheless artistic. That young man with the long, auburn hair and the impudent face--that young man was not really a poet; but surely he was a poem. That old gentleman with the wild, white beard and the wild, white hat--that venerable humbug was not really a philosopher; but at least he was the cause of philosophy in others."
The main character of the book, Gabriel Symes, is a poet, philosopher and a member of secret police who are dedicated to fighting destructive thought. He ends up joining the secret society of anarchists in order to work against them from inside. This leads to some of Chesterton's greatest dialogue "I wish you would abolish left and right, they give me far more trouble." and some of his most entertaining writing. But as well as being entertaining, it is also quite poignant.
Throughout the book Chesterton explores themes he was well known for exploring within his life. The beauty and poetry of life, catholocism and God. He also makes his philosophy well known. Use your brain, think about things, be ready to live and die for something beautiful and poetic.
If you like Pratchett, then more than likely, you will like this guy as well (get this book as well as The Ball and the Cross as well, also amusing). Considering that Pratchett has read a number of his works (when you read what Pratchett has written, particularly Small Gods) you'll notice where he stole from him.
Josh Z
The book opens easily, painting a scene that is easy to see. It also doesn't let you finish a page without reading a poeticly smart assed remark. For example "Even if the people were not "artists," the whole was nevertheless artistic. That young man with the long, auburn hair and the impudent face--that young man was not really a poet; but surely he was a poem. That old gentleman with the wild, white beard and the wild, white hat--that venerable humbug was not really a philosopher; but at least he was the cause of philosophy in others."
The main character of the book, Gabriel Symes, is a poet, philosopher and a member of secret police who are dedicated to fighting destructive thought. He ends up joining the secret society of anarchists in order to work against them from inside. This leads to some of Chesterton's greatest dialogue "I wish you would abolish left and right, they give me far more trouble." and some of his most entertaining writing. But as well as being entertaining, it is also quite poignant.
Throughout the book Chesterton explores themes he was well known for exploring within his life. The beauty and poetry of life, catholocism and God. He also makes his philosophy well known. Use your brain, think about things, be ready to live and die for something beautiful and poetic.
If you like Pratchett, then more than likely, you will like this guy as well (get this book as well as The Ball and the Cross as well, also amusing). Considering that Pratchett has read a number of his works (when you read what Pratchett has written, particularly Small Gods) you'll notice where he stole from him.
Josh Z
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