Chapters III and IV The Man Who Was Thursday and The Tale of a Detective

Chapter III The Man Who Was Thursday

In which a charismatic blond newcomer uses fiery rhetoric and mocking belittlement of his opponent to unexpectedly win an election which had been considered a foregone conclusion.

Wait a minute. This sounds familiar.

Chapter IV The Tale of a Detective

In which we learn of the Gabriel Syme's background, the existence of a philosophical detective branch, and Syme's recruitment thereto.

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Next week, we will continue with chapters V and VI. I look forward to your comments on these chapters.

Chapter II The Secret of Gabriel Syme

Chapter II The Secret of Gabriel Syme

In which our hero, Gabriel Syme, accepts a dinner invitation, eats lobster, and meets an entire roomful of Joseph Chamberlains. He also, incidentally, reveals an important fact about his own profession to his friendly rival Lucian Gregory.

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Starting next Saturday, we will be covering two chapters a week, so in preparation for next week, please read chapters III and IV.

G.K. Chesterton - Heavy metal lyricist

I don't know whether Chesterton is better known today as an essayist or a novelist. I am quite sure he is not well known today as a poet, which is sad because his poetry is gorgeous. But I am most sure of all that it is little known that G.K. Chesterton wrote lyrics for heavy metal band Iron Maiden. I present the song:

 

For those unaware, that first verse is taken from Chesterton's Hymn:

For any who are interested, myself and some friends discussing Chesterton's "Hymn".

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I think for the rest of the book, we'll do two chapters a week, but since I had not previously said so, this Saturday, we'll continue with just chapter II. From the next week on, we'll cover two at a time. See you then.

Chapter I The Two Poets of Saffron Park

In which we meet our hero, Gabriel Syme, a poet. Gabriel Syme engages in a friendly argument with another poet Lucian Gregory about the nature of art, anarchy and order. The chapter ends with Gregory offering Syme a cryptic and perilous challenge and Syme accepting.

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If you are new to the group, here's how it works. Sometime over the course of the week, post your comments, questions, and thoughts on this chapter and read and reply to others' thoughts.

Most of the chapters are about this long, so before the comments on the text itself, I'd like to ask all of you: Should we do one chapter or two a week. If most people say one, I'm fine with that. If people want two, I think that could work also.

Thanks, and remember, hide any spoilers for future chapters in the comments using <spoiler> </spoiler>. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. God be with you.

Next book: The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton

I've said this before, but thought it merited a post of its own. Our next book will be G.K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday. I'll post the discussion thread for chapter one this Saturday morning. If you're new here, you'll need a Disqus account to comment.

One note to newcomers: This is this group's second book. Feel free to look back at the discussion of our first book and join in the conversation. However, if you want to comment, please be relevant to the conversation, and please actually have something to say. Anyone whose posts consist primarily of various versions of denouncing us as morally flawed will be warned, and, if they persist, banned. I am fine with disagreement, but I want an actual argument not just moral preening.

I would like this to be an open forum with free discussion, however, since this is, effectively, my house, I reserve the right to escort troublemakers out. If I find this necessary, I generally give people a warning and a second chance.

Oh, and for the sake of people who've not read the book before, please no spoilers for upcoming chapters. EDIT: I've since found that Disqus has a spoiler tag. If your comment mentions material we've not yet gotten to, just hide that portion using <spoiler> and </spoiler>.

That said, I hope you'll join us to talk about Chesterton and his book. God be with you.

You can find a free text at Gutenberg.org.
You can find a free audiobook version at Librivox.

Chapter XV Conclusion. Habit or Law

CHAPTER XV

Conclusion. Habit or Law?

301

Granted that the solution I advance (a full recognition of separate nationality) is the just solution, should it be expressed in law?—Not, I think, until it has first appeared in our morals and social conventions—to begin with laws and regulations on our side would inevitably breed oppression—but the suggestion of separate institutions coming from the Jewish side should be welcomed—urgency of a settlement—modern quarrels are growing fiercer, not less—but for my part I say, "Peace to Israel."

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And this is the last chapter. Next week, for those interested, we will pick up with The Man Who Was Thursday. So, for those few of us who finished, I was hoping Yehuda could grant us a limited-time (one month? one year?) k-word pass. Any word on that?

That didn't go well.

I wasn't going to have a midweek post this week, but then I discovered AI Dungeon, a procedurally-generated text adventure game. The computer makes up parts of a story and you respond.

So, I decide to make a time machine and travel back to 1938. I find Hitler has been murdered. And, well, I'll just show you where the story goes from there:

> Go to the year 1938

You return to the year 1938 and find that Adolf Hitler has been killed by a bomb planted in his pocket. Your family is dead, your home destroyed, and you are now trapped in the past.

> Impersonate Hitler.

You impersonate Adolf Hitler and convince everyone that you are the real man behind the throne. The people accept your rule and you become Emperor.

> Be nice to Jews.

You decide to be nice to the Jews since they helped you during World War II. They all have jobs and everything is fine. However, you realize that this isn't going to last forever and eventually someone will rebel against your rule.

> Call my advisors.

You call your advisors and explain that you need their advice on how to deal with the rebellion. They agree to come with you but only if they get first dibs on any new jobs or promotions.

> “Who is rebelling?”

You say who is rebelling when the rebels attack. Everyone is shocked by your answer. You then order an invasion of Germany.

> Ask Jews who is rebelling.

You ask the Jews who is rebelling and they don't know. You then order them to spy on the rebels.

>

They spy on the rebels and discover that they are all Jewish. You then order them to kill every single one of them.

> Every single time!

You order the execution of every single Jew in Germany. This causes a huge uprising which you put down.

 I tried, guys. I really tried.

Chapter XIV Various Theories

CHAPTER XIV

Various Theories

277

This chapter is a digression on the various theories on the Jewish race and its fortunes which have arisen in history and some of which are still present.

The theory that reconciliation is impossible—its attachment to the idea of a special curse or blessing.

The theory of a mysterious necessary alliance between Israel and Britain—its most extravagant forms.

The theory that the Jews are the necessary flux of Europe, without which our energies would decline—note on the intellectual independence of the Jew and on his original effect on our thought—demand for a Jewish history of Europe and Islam combined.

The theory that the Jewish problem is domestic only and no concern of ours—its error, since the relations are mutual.

The two theories of the Jew as a malignant enemy of our innocent selves, and of our malignant enmity against the innocent and martyred Jew—both erroneous.

The theory that the Jewish problem is now solving itself by absorption—this theory false and due to a misunderstanding of history and a neglect of acute modern and recent differentiation—Mr. Ford's epigram on "the melting-pot."

Fantastic theory that no Jewish national type exists!

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So, the current plan, for those interested, is to pick up with Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday after we finish this book. Thanks for everyone who's contributed your thoughts. It's been interesting and educational. I look forward to your thoughts on this week, and God be with you.