Village That Voted The Earth Was Flat

In a tale as intriguing today as it was in its time, this story explores the curious case of Huckley, an English village that found itself voting on the flatness of the Earth. But how did this bizarre scenario come to be? The narrative unfolds around Sir Thomas Ingell, the local squire, who inadvertently becomes the centerpiece of an international mockery after luring two newspaper owners, a reporter, and an MP into a speeding incident. With the cunning assistance of Bat Masquerier, a music hall owner embodying The Totally Amoral Soul and Personal Devil, the village is thrust into the spotlight. The climax arrives with the whimsical performance of the Gubby, the entirely fictitious village dance, staged in the Houses of Parliament, leaving a lasting impression. This enchanting tale can be found in Kiplings collection, A Diversity of Creatures. (Tony Addison)