The Flying Inn - Softcover

Chesterton, G. K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 048641910X ISBN 13: 9780486419107

Publisher: Dover, 2001

Synopsis

An exuberant man as well as a prolific and gifted writer, G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was a man with very strong opinions — and extremely capable of defending them. In this hilarious, satirical romp, Chesterton demonstrates his intense distrust of power and "progressives," railing against Prohibition, vegetarianism, theosophy, and other "dreary and oppressive" forces of modernity.
In a spirited response to the government's attempt to curtail alcohol sales, Humphrey Pump (called Hump) — a pub owner in the fishing village of Pebblewick — takes to the road in a donkey cart. Accompanied by Captain Patrick Dalroy, a crimson-haired giant with a tendency to burst into song, Hump provisions the cart with a cask of good rum, a giant round of cheese, and the signpost from his pub, The Flying Inn. Together, the two men extend good cheer to an increasingly restless populace as they attempt to evade Prohibition. In a journey that becomes a rollicking madcap adventure, the two travel round England, encountering revolution, romance, and a cast of memorable characters.
Sure to receive an enthusiastic welcome from Chesterton fans, this new edition of an old classic will also appeal to anyone who enjoys a humorous, well-crafted tale.

About this title

About the Author

Widely known as the "Prince of Paradox," G. K. Chesterton was one of the most influential English writers and thinkers of the 20th century. Chesterton's prodigious talents embraced a wide range of subjects, from philosophy and religion to detective fiction and fantasy. And while his writings are light and whimsical, they are filled with direct and honest truths.

Review

"The Flying Inn is the most rambunctious of Chesterton's novels, a rollicking ramble through the heart of merry England, in which our intrepid heroes stay one step ahead of the enemies of civilization."
-- Joseph Pearce, Author, Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G.K. Chesterton

"Chesterton said The Flying Inn was one of the books he most enjoyed writing, and indeed it is a joyous romp of mirth and mayhem. But it has turned out to be shockingly prophetic as it portrays the modern world turning its back on Christian civilization, giving way to a blur of barbarism, bureaucracy, and Islam. The rich irony is that a story filled with drinking songs and a barrel of rum should be so sobering."
--Dale Ahlquist, Author, G.K Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense

"Chesterton uses the fantastical to reveal the real, and never has he done so in as prescient a way as in The Flying Inn. In fact, there is nothing too absurd in this satirical work for it not to have actually taken place recently. . . . It can be enjoyed simply at the level of a rip-roaring good yarn with some sidesplitting laughter. At a deeper level, he lays bare the corrupt mindset that subverts Western civilization in favor of a future beyond. So grab a cask of rum and draw your sword."
--Robert Reilly, from the Foreword

"When I was young I thought reading books for pleasure was not possible. Then I happened upon Chesterton's The Flying Inn. I could not put the book down, and as soon as I had finished, I turned to page one and began again. Humphry and Patrick and their madcap adventures made a reader out of me, and I've been grateful to them and to G.K. Chesterton ever since."
--John Peterson, Editor, Father Brown and the Ten Commandments

Edition details

• Publisher: Dover
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 048641910X
• ISBN 13: 9780486419107
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 320