The Way of All Flesh

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A candid journey through Victorian society's constraints.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Victorian society and the challenges faced by individuals trying to break free from its restrictive norms. Samuel Butler's candid and autobiographical storytelling sheds light on the struggles of a protagonist, Ernest Pontifex, as he navigates the suffocating grip of a highly-religious family and the rigidity of Victorian society. It is a powerful commentary on the clash between personal freedom and societal expectations, making it a thought-provoking and engaging read.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Way of All Flesh

Regular price
Unit price
per
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ISBN: 9780140621785
Authors: Samuel Butler
Date of Publication: 1959-10-24
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Historical Fiction
Goodreads rating: 3.61
(rated by 9177 readers)

Description

Samuel Butler was one of the Victorian era's greatest iconoclasts. Once, he said that after reading Darwin's "The Origin of Species," that the theory of evolution had replaced Christianity for him. And this -- after Butler had originally studied for the clergy. Darwin also praised Butler for his clear understanding of Darwin's scientific work, as expressed in a series of popular articles contributed to the "Canterbury Press." Butler's first literary success came in the form of the 1872 novel "Erewhon," a work that was originally published anonymously, but which was an immediate popular and critical success in its satire of Victorian English mores and customs ("Erewhon" is "Nowhere" spelled backward). After "Erewhon," Butler began writing the first draft of "The Way of All Flesh," but put it aside after realizing that the scathing, autobiographical nature of the story would deeply hurt other family members. "The Way of All Flesh" was eventually published in 1903. It tells the story of Ernest Pontifex, based upon Butler himself, and his struggles with Victorian mores, his restrictive, highly-religious family, and Victorian society itself. Butler is remembered as one of the greatest of the anti-Victorians, whose ideas reflected accurately the new, more liberal society that was to come following the death of England's great Queen, and the beginning of a new era.
 

A candid journey through Victorian society's constraints.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Victorian society and the challenges faced by individuals trying to break free from its restrictive norms. Samuel Butler's candid and autobiographical storytelling sheds light on the struggles of a protagonist, Ernest Pontifex, as he navigates the suffocating grip of a highly-religious family and the rigidity of Victorian society. It is a powerful commentary on the clash between personal freedom and societal expectations, making it a thought-provoking and engaging read.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.