The Man Who Was Thursday

The Man Who Was Thursday is a 1908 novel by the English writer G.K. Chesterton. It has been described as a “metaphysical thriller” and has had a significant influence on the development of the thriller and surrealist genres.

Recommended for: Fans of thought-provoking fiction, readers drawn to the intersection of genre storytelling and philosophical exploration, and those who enjoy narratives with complex, twisting plots.

You will:

Be fascinated by Chesterton’s blend of thriller elements, surreal fantasy, and deep investigation into questions of order, chaos, and the nature of truth
Explore the dynamic between individual free will and larger forces of control
Gain insights into the impact of early 20th century political and religious movements on literature
Immerse yourself in a thrilling, suspenseful narrative that subverts expectations at every turn
Grapple with profound existential questions about reality, power, and human agency
Encounter a unique synthesis of adventure, philosophy, and surreal, dreamlike elements
Be left pondering the fine line between order and chaos, and the consequences of knowing too much

Plot Summary

The story takes place in Victorian-era London and follows the character of Gabriel Syme, who is recruited by Scotland Yard to join a secret anti-anarchist police corps. Syme meets an anarchist poet named Lucian Gregory and the two debate the nature of poetry and anarchism. Syme reveals that he is an undercover detective, which prompts Gregory to take him to a clandestine anarchist meeting.

At this meeting, Syme discovers that the anarchist council is made up of seven men, each using the name of a day of the week as a cover. An election is about to be held to choose the new “Thursday” member. Syme makes a rousing anarchist speech and is elected to the council, unaware that five of the other six members are also undercover detectives like himself, all trying to infiltrate and disrupt the anarchist group.

As Syme works to thwart the council’s activities, he gradually realizes that the other detectives are also not who they seem. The group’s mysterious president, a man called Sunday, is ultimately unmasked as not truly an anarchist at all, but rather a proponent of state power who has orchestrated the entire situation as an elaborate ruse.

The story takes on a surreal, dreamlike quality as the detectives discover that they have been manipulated and pitted against each other by Sunday. In the climactic ending, Sunday is revealed to have never truly suffered like those he has tyrannized over, echoing the words of Jesus to his disciples. This leaves the reader with a sense of unease and the lingering question of whether goodness and order can truly prevail in an apparently absurd and chaotic world.

Chesterton himself described the novel as an effort to depict the “world of wild doubt and despair” espoused by the philosophical pessimists of his era, while still maintaining an underlying belief in the essential goodness at the heart of existence. The story’s blend of thriller, metaphysical speculation, and dreamlike fantasy has led critics to compare it to the works of Kafka and Borges, seeing it as a pivotal text that bridges the nonsense-fantastical tradition of earlier writers like Lewis Carroll and the more nightmarish, absurdist vision that would characterize much 20th century fiction.

While some have attempted to read the novel as a Christian allegory, others argue that its vision is ultimately more pessimistic, depicting a world that is “illegible and may well be nonsensical.” The novel’s profound influence, however, is undisputed, with admirers ranging from the novelist Kingsley Amis to the political activist Michael Collins. Its inventive plot, rich symbolism, and exploration of deep philosophical questions continue to captivate readers over a century after its initial publication.

In addition to the original novel, The Man Who Was Thursday has inspired various adaptations over the years, including radio plays, a never-realized musical, and a 2016 film. Its themes and characters have also reverberated through other works of fiction, demonstrating the enduring power and impact of Chesterton’s singular vision.

Licensing

G.K. Chesterton. The Man Who Was Thursday. Originally published in 1908. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929. The longest-living author of this work died in 1936, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author’s life plus 87 years or less. This digital edition is provided by Standard Ebooks under the CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.