The Mad Official by G.K. Chesterton
The Mad Official is a short story by G.K. Chesterton that follows the misadventures of a government official who goes mad after being exposed to a mysterious gas. The story explores themes of bureaucracy, power, and sanity in a humorous and satirical way.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1926 · Genre: Satire, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary · 1,458 words
First lines
Going mad is the slowest and dullest business in the world. I have very nearly done it more than once in my boyhood, and so have nearly all my friends, born under the general doom of mortals, but especially of moderns; I mean the doom that makes a man come almost to the end of thinking before he comes to the first chance of living.
What this Textopian page supports
The Mad Official is listed on Textopian as a short story by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1926 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Essay, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 1,458 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mad Official by G.K. Chesterton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Mad Official?
- How does this short story by G.K. Chesterton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Divine Detective by G. K. Chesterton
- The Man With Two Beards by G. K. Chesterton
- Some Policemen And A Moral by G. K. Chesterton
- The Wrong Horse by G. K. Chesterton
- The Domesticity Of Detectives by G. K. Chesterton
- The Astonishment Of The Agent by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Satire — The text uses humor and irony to critique societal norms and the absurdities of modern life.
- Philosophical Fiction — Explores deep philosophical themes about madness, societal norms, and the human condition.
- Social Commentary — Critiques social and legal systems, highlighting injustices and irrationalities.
- Essay — Structured as a reflective and argumentative piece, discussing ideas and observations.
Tags
mystery · detective · crime · humor · satire · politics · society · philosophy · absurdism · character study · narrative · dialogue