Set in London in the early 1900s, this metaphysical thriller follows undercover policeman Gabriel Syme, who, in partnership with a Scotland Yard task force, attempts to take down underground anarchists. Syme encounters Lucian Gregory, a passionate anarchist, who eventually takes him to a secret meeting place. Once there, Syme begins to influence the anarchists and is eventually elected to the central council. In his attempts to destroy the council of anarchists from the inside, he starts to uncover more secrets, each more mysterious than the last. Thick with Christian symbolism, this classic G. K. Chesterton novel will have listeners on the edge of their seat until the final secrets are revealed.
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"You've never read anything like this book. It's part spy novel, part farce, part nightmare; it's a century old but feels utterly modern. It's as surreal as Auster or Borges, yet tangible, and best of all, it's hilarious. If you're looking for a unique read, look no further." — Trin (4 out of 5 stars)
"You've never read anything like this book. It's part spy novel, part farce, part nightmare; it's a century old but feels utterly modern. It's as surreal as Auster or Borges, yet tangible, and best of all, it's hilarious. If you're looking for a unique read, look no further."
" I thoroughly enjoyed this, but I'm not sure I totally undertood it. It bordered on the absurd. I'm looking forward to discussing the book with members of The Novella Club in November. "
" What a load of old-codgerly right-wing Catholic-Conservative piffle! The first forty of fifty pages are entertaining enough, but as soon as the chase commences (through London, to France and back through London) the book turns into a shambolic romp. Or maybe I should just say that it's not my cup of tea... "
" A thriller with just the right touch of humour and philosophy. "
" A well crafted satire with a great Keystone Kop moment dashed in. "
" anarchistisch complot + wilde achtervolgingen + flauwe grapjes + personages die eigenlijk levensvisies zijn (of zoiets). Bizar en cool en uniek. "
" This thought provoking book reminds me that I have a lot more to learn about what is in the canon of English literature. "
" My favorite quote from this book: "Moderate strength is shown in violence, supreme strength in levity." "
" Jolly good fun, but spoiled by predictability of plot and Victorian sentimentality of outcome. "
" Thoroughly enjoyed. No surprise he reminds me of C.S. Lewis. "
" This book seemingly transforms from a prosaic detective thriller into a poetic allegory. I must say I liked both poles, but I found the transitional voyage between these poles (most of the book) hard to bear. "
" Why isn't this taught in more universities? This reads like an undiscovered classic and a clear forerunner to Heller and Pynchon. A must. "
" This is perhaps my favorite book. I've read it at least 8 times. Chesterton is creative genius who has created a map-cap adventure. "
" Awesome. The key part of the title is "A Nightmare." Just good stuff. "
" The plot was delightfully intricate, the language beautiful, but it was just a tad too surreal for my taste. "
" I don't know... the plot got to be a little repetitive. I can see the points where others admired this book, but it's not one of my favorites. "
" One of the best books I ever read. Also one of the first fiction books I've read in YEARS. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, absolutely HATED to put it down (schoolwork y'know?) Man, absolutely loved it and will read it again. "
" Trippy. Very trippy. At least, for a novel written before World War One. Interesting, perhaps less than compelling, especially since it is all more or less comprehensible on a literal level for the first three quarters, and then gets suddenly Symbolic. "
" A book that will never be completely understood yet always enjoyed. "
" I don't understand the point of this book. It seems like the "twist" is going to be really obvious for most of it, but then at the end it just goes completely off the rails and makes no sense at all. Weird. "
" Read at Project Gutenberg. I do believe this is one of the weirdest stories I have ever encountered. "
" Kinda, satire(ish) mystery, thriller, science fiction, quirky, odd-ball, looney, what was that all about, kinda book. I kinda liked it. "
" Wasn't too bad, a little bit convoluted in areas. "
" "bad is so bad, that we cannot but think good an accident; good is so good, that we feel certain that evil could be explained." "
" Listened to this one on audiotape. It was narrated by a stuffy British guy, so kinda hard to zone in. Entertaining, but not better than his nonfiction. "
" This story reminds me of short stories by Kafka. One almost needs to read it twice to figure out what it's all about. "
Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936) published numerous works which include compilations of his voluminous journalism, novels, biographies, histories, criticism, Christian apologetics, poetry, and plays. Many of his novels have the genuine marks of genius. His books on Dickens (for whom he had a considerable affinity) and Saint Thomas Aquinas are considered classics in their fields.
Gildart Jackson’s acting credits span the stage and screen. He is most often recognized for his roles as Gideon on Charmed and Simon Prentiss on General Hospital. He has also starred in numerous television shows, including CSI and Vegas, and he played the lead in the highly acclaimed independent feature film You, directed by his wife, Melora Hardin.
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