'Village That Voted The Earth Was Flat' Summary

'The Village That Voted the Earth Was Flat' is a satirical tale about the village of Huckley, where the inhabitants are persuaded by a group of individuals led by the amoral Bat Masquerier to believe that the Earth is flat. The plot unfolds as a wealthy squire, Sir Thomas Ingell, seeks revenge on two journalists and a politician who have caught him speeding. Using Masquerier's cunning and manipulating the villagers' beliefs, Ingell aims to make the town a laughingstock, but his plan backfires as the village's reputation takes on a life of its own. The story culminates in a grand performance of a traditional Huckley village dance in the Houses of Parliament, highlighting the absurdity and comical nature of the situation. Kipling's biting satire exposes the vulnerability of society to manipulation and the consequences of blind faith, ultimately questioning the true nature of reality and the ease with which it can be distorted.