G. K. Chesterton published a collection of short stories called The Club of Queer Trades. Each tale in the anthology centers on a character who earns a living uniquely and remarkably (a "queer trade", using the word "queer" in the sense of "strange").
"Cherub" Swinburne's frame story details his search for The Club of Queer Trades with his friend Basil Grant, a retired judge, and Rupert Grant, a private investigator, and Basil's younger brother. The meeting with one of the trades is detailed in each of the stories.
These six little tales are lighthearted and humorous but not trite. Basil Grant, a retired and reclusive former judge who is described as insane, mystical, and a poet, with essentially no acquaintances, but who "would talk to anyone anyplace," goes on adventures with Swinburne. These six little tales are lighthearted and humorous but not trite. Basil Grant, a retired and reclusive former judge who is described as insane, mystical, and a poet, with essentially no acquaintances, but who "would talk to anyone anyplace," goes on adventures with Swinburne.
G.K.Chesterton, in full Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874-14 June 1936), English critic and author of poetry, essays, novels, and short stories, known also for his dynamic personality and obese figure. He was an important English writer of the early twentieth century. His productive and various output included journalism, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction. He has been concerned to as the 'prince of paradox'. He devoted his extraordinary brain and creative power to the reform of English government and society. He was knowledgeable at St. Paul's, and went to art school at University College London. He wrote 100 books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. Chesterton expired on 14 June 1936 at his home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.