Other Fiction Chesterton, G K: The Flying Inn, LIT v1, 1 November 2009.

[Patricia]

G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936)
The Flying Inn (1914)

First published in 1914, this surreal comic novel is set in the near future. The themes that Chesterton satirizes are still likely to touch a nerve today. He envisages an England where the upper classes have converted to Islam, and are attempting to ban the consumption of alcohol. The lead characters set up a peripatetic public house and exploit various legal loopholes in order to get a drink.
There is a particularly delightful excoriation of cocoa; discussions on the merits of cannabis, criticism of Islamic extremists, corrupt politicians, journalists, vegetarians and exponents of “Higher Thought” (i.e. new-age weirdoes). This means that it is surprisingly topical in places.

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