The Club of Queer Trades

By G. K. Chesterton

The Club of Queer Trades is a collection of stories by G. K. Chesterton first published in 1905. Each story in the collection is centered on a person who is making his living by some novel and extraordinary means. To gain admittance one must have invented a unique means of earning a living and the subsequent trade being the main source of income.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Start Classics
• Release date: Dec 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781627938693

G. K. Chesterton

G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was an English writer, philosopher and critic known for his creative wordplay. Born in London, Chesterton attended St. Paul’s School before enrolling in the Slade School of Fine Art at University College. His professional writing career began as a freelance critic where he focused on art and literature. He then ventured into fiction with his novels The Napoleon of Notting Hill and The Man Who Was Thursday as well as a series of stories featuring Father Brown.

Reviews for The Club of Queer Trades

[raizel_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There are a few good quotes in this collection of short stories with a common theme and main characters. If you guess the mystery in the story, however, there is not enough left---say, character development or moral questions---of much interest. A Club member must "have invented the method by which he earns his living." The stories are about the members and the queer trades they have come up with.The stories are:The Tremendous Adventures of Major BrownThe Painful Fall of a Great ReputationThe Awful Reason of the Vicar's VisitThe Singular Speculation of the House-AgentThe Noticeable Conduct of Professor ChaddThe Eccentric Seclusion of the Old LadySome quotes:"A fine chap, that Major; when one hasn't a touch of the poet one stands some chance of being a poem." [p. 24, "The Tremendous Adventures of Major Brown"]"Truth must of necessity be stranger than fiction," said Basil placidly. "For fiction is the creation of the human mind, and therefore is congenial to it." [p. 67, "The Singular Speculation of the House-Agent"]I had met Grant [for the first time]... and exchanged a few words about the weather. Then we had talked for about an hour about politics and God; for men always talk about the most important things to total strangers. It is because in the total stranger we perceive man himself; the image of God is not disguised by resemblances to an uncle or doubts of the wisdom of a moustache. [p. 90, "The Noticeable Conduct of Professor Chadd]

[dbsovereign · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A parody of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories, these tales are light and amusing. I prefer his Father Brown stories, but these were fun.

[igorversteeg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun & relaxing read.
The writing is well done, and the ideas funny and original.

The best idea of all in this book, to me, is the idea of the club of queer trades itself.
I'm sure this book could be rewritten regularly over the centuries to make fantastic sequels. I don't see how it'll ever get old!

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A delightful collection of six short stories, this is one of my favorite Chesterton books yet. It is about a club whose members must have an original occupation to join and who must actually make a living from said occupation. Not so easy to think up as you would first believe. Though I picked up the theme of the tales fairly quickly, the occupations were always a revelation. I love his use of language and found myself laughing out loud in the car while I listened to this book. David Barnes reads with just the right spirit and is a delight to listen to.

[endersreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a very sweet little read. I believe my favorite character—other than of course the prodigy mystic and former Judge, Basil Grant—was Major Brown. I can only imagine my own horror if I climbed a wall to see pansies arranged in such a malevolent and personal pattern of growth.Basil Grant's brother, the rather cynical, or at least pessimistic, Rupert Grant—a private detective, whose logic is always shown to be flawed—very much reminded me of many other "# 2s" of the Mystery genre. Funny that Mr. Swinburne was Rupert's own "#2" man, as well as the narrator. The real target of Chesterton's satire was Mr. Doyle's Holmes. I do wish to make it known that Chesterton was quite the intellectual fellow. He often debated his close friend George Bernard Shaw alongside many others. I give you one of Chesterton's most memorable Holmesian quotes:[...] to realize that Sherlock Holmes is not really a real logician. He is an ideal logician imagined by an illogical person. [...] But Sherlock Holmes is an ideal figure, and in an imaginative sense a very effective one. He does embody the notion which unreasonable people entertain of what pure reason would be like.This witty and quite humorous little novel was a pleasure to read. There is much commentary on the modernity of man, which is not at all outdated, nor will it ever become so.Paradox runs rampant throughout, as it was one of Chesterton's favorite toys. There also is a great many memorable quotes within, viz., "What is the modern mind?" asked Grant."Oh, it's enlightened, you know, and progressive --and faces the facts of life seriously." At this moment another roar of laughter came from within."The six short stories within are interconnected, sequential, yet independent. Each presents us with a trade, or way of making a living, that the world has never seen before. Brilliant!!

[clfisha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

More lovely surreal detection puzzles.Our narrator and his friend, the mad judge, and his amateur detective brother embark on a series adventures all stemming from a mysterious club, a club which only people with bizarre jobs can join.Chesterton is fast becoming one of my favourite writers. These series of linked short stories are all wildly inventive and wonderfully surreal, a sort of antidote to factual Sherlock Holmes detective stories. There is feeling of joy in his novels, a celebration of life even while it is delving into darkness. His odd way of looking at things allows you to think about them from a different point of view and while I don't always agree I am always intrigued and entertained.

[drewandlori · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Despite the unfortunate title, this is a very entertaining book.

[5eva5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is pretty good and very similar to - although not nearly as sharp as - Sherlock Holmes stories. I must admit, I had never heard of Chesterton before and was a little hesitant to read him since he was part of the rabid Jesus-people. Although there is a little bit of preaching in this book, it's easy to overlook if you set your mind to it... The solutions to the "mysteries" are quite deux ex machina, but if you remember how long ago they were written, they're quite charming, and so forgiven. I particularly like the guy who lives at The Elms! :)

[ben_a_11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first Chesterton I read, and I felt kinship at once. A wonderful introduction to his style and sensibility -- the first few stories are the best, however."To realize that there were ten new trades in the world was like looking at the first ship or the first plough. It made a man feel what he should feel, that he was still in the childhood of the world."Recommended.Re-reading 12.3.07

[craso_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a clever collection of short stories where things are never what they seem. Each story starts out with a wildly improbable scenario which is then sensibly explained by members of the Club of Queer Trades, a club devoted to the creation of unique new professions.

[verbafacio · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bizarre, but everything in this book fits together tidily. Highly recommended. This book will help me to remember that what seems simplest isn't always the best explanation.