Best Selling Books by Samuel Butler

"The Way of All Flesh" by Samuel Butler is a semi-autobiographical novel that explores the complexities of family dynamics and societal expectations in Victorian England. The narrative follows the Pontifex family, focusing on the lives of George Pontifex and his descendants. George, a self-made man, rises from humble beginnings to become a wealthy and respected figure. Despite his success, he struggles with the expectations he places on his children, particularly his sons, John and Theobald. The novel delves into the generational conflicts that arise from differing values and the pressure to conform to societal norms. George Pontifex's life is marked by his adherence to traditional values and his belief in the importance of hard work and self-reliance. He is a stern father who expects his children to follow in his footsteps, yet he fails to recognize the changing social landscape and the shift of his rigid expectations on his children's happiness. Theobald, in particular, feels the weight of his father's changes and struggles to assert his own identity. The novel also touches on themes of religion, education, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Butler critiques the educational system of the time, highlighting its role in perpetuating social hierarchies and stifling individual creativity. Through the character of Ernest, Theobald's son, Butler explores the possibility of breaking free from the constraints of family and society to forge one's own path. Butler's work is a reflection on the challenges of navigating familial relationships and societal pressures, offering a critique of the Victorian era's moral and social values. The novel's exploration of these themes remains relevant, providing insight into the universal struggle for self-discovery and the quest for authenticity in the face of external expectations.

Samuel Butler (1835 - 1902) was a Victorian novelist who wrote in many genres. The Way of All Flesh and Erehhon are his most famous novels. Besides fiction Butler also wrote on evolution, Christian orthodoxy, Italian art, literary history and translated the Illiad and The Odyssey. Erewhon is a utopian satire of Victorian England published in 1872. The title is the name of a fictional country and it is also the word nowhere spelled backwards. The beginning of the book deals with the discovery of Erewhon, which is based on Butlers time in New Zealand where he worked on a sheep ranch for four years. The novel satirizes religion, anthropocentrism, and criminal punishment.

The Odyssey, one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is a sequel to the Iliad, another one of the works attributed to Homer. The poem is the second oldest extant work of Western literature, the Iliad being the oldest, fundamental to modern Western canon, believed by Scholars to have been composed near the end of the 8th century BC.

Reproduction of the original: Alps and Sanctuaries of Piedmont and the Canton Ticino by Samuel Butler

"The Way of All Flesh (sometimes called Ernest Pontifex, or the Way of All Flesh) is a semi-autobiographical novel by Samuel Butler that attacks Victorian-era hypocrisy.[1] Written between 1873 and 1884, it traces four generations of the Pontifex family. Butler dared not publish it during his lifetime, but when it was published (in 1903) it was accepted as part of the general reaction against Victorianism.The title is a common misquotation of a Biblical Hebrew expression, to ""go the way of all the earth"", meaning ""to die"" (1 Kings 2:2 etc.).In 1998, the Modern Library ranked The Way of All Flesh twelfth on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century."

"The Way of All Flesh (sometimes called Ernest Pontifex, or the Way of All Flesh) is a semi-autobiographical novel by Samuel Butler that attacks Victorian-era hypocrisy.[1] Written between 1873 and 1884, it traces four generations of the Pontifex family. Butler dared not publish it during his lifetime, but when it was published (in 1903) it was accepted as part of the general reaction against Victorianism.The title is a common misquotation of a Biblical Hebrew expression, to ""go the way of all the earth"", meaning ""to die"" (1 Kings 2:2 etc.).In 1998, the Modern Library ranked The Way of All Flesh twelfth on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century."

Erewhon or Over the Range By Samuel Butler Butler Samuel Butler's irreverent satire, 'Erewhon', castigates the hypocrisy of both religion and conventional social mores, and pours scorn on the unthinking acceptance that makes such beliefs possible. In Erewhon (an anagram of 'Nowhere') 'normal' behaviour' consists of hospitalizing fraudsters and chastising the sick; of disregarding genius and praising the insane. Erewhonians are described as "meek and long-suffering, easily led by the nose, and quick to offer up common sense at the shrine of logic" - pointed criticism of both Victorian society and contemporary 'politically-correct' repression. Butler's imaginative tale sparkles with wit and prescient insights: his discussion of the dangers posed by increasingly intelligent machines has more relevance today than when it was first written over 130 years ago. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience. Erewhon or Over the Range, By Samuel Butler Butler,

"The Way of All Flesh," an autobiographical account of a harsh Victorian upbringing and troubled adulthood, was penned by Samuel Butler and hailed by George Bernard Shaw as "one of the summits of human achievement." Butler's novel satirizes Victorian hypocrisy in its chronicle of the life and loves of Ernest Pontifex. Along the way, it offers a powerful indictment of 19th-century England's major institutions. Beginning with the life of John Pontifex, a carpenter, the novel traces four generations of the Pontifex family, each of which perpetuates the frustration and unhappiness of its predecessor largely as a result of parental repression. Only Ernest Pontifex, the great-grandson of John, is able to break the cycle. After being ordained a minister, serving a prison term because of a naive misunderstanding, and unwittingly entering into a bigamous marriage with the family's sluttish servant girl, Ernest providentially inherits enough money from a favorite aunt to change his life and become a writer. Even today, 100 years after the book's publication, readers will find much to identify with in "The Way of All Flesh." Anyone who felt unjustly treated by his or her parents or teachers will find much to sympathize with here. Anyone who has wrestled with the conflict between Reason and Faith will find much to think about here. It is easy to see how many people have described reading Samuel Butler's "The Way of All Flesh" as a turning point in their lives.