G.K. Chesterton’s masterpiece novel, The Man Who Was Thursday, is both a metaphysical thriller and Christian allegory. Set in London at the beginning of the twentieth century, the story involves the infiltration of a secret anarchist council whose leaders use code names corresponding with days of the week.
This annotated edition explicates and enriches the complete text with extensive footnotes. In addition, annotator Martin Gardner offers an introductory essay on the metaphysical meaning of Chesterton’s profound allegory, noting how this extraordinary work “revolves around two of the deepest of all theological mysteries: the freedom of the will and the existence of massive, irrational evil.”
Gardner sees the novel’s anarchists as symbols of our God-given free will. The mysterious figure of Sunday represents nature, with its strange mixture of good and evil when considered as distinct from God, as a mask hiding the transcendental face of the creator.
The book also includes a bibliography listing the novel’s many earlier editions and stage dramatizations, as well as numerous illustrations that further illuminate the text.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With your software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.