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The Way of All Flesh

Samuel Butler

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The Way of All Flesh

by Samuel Butler
The Way of All Flesh - Thryft
The Way of All Flesh - Thryft

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

by Samuel Butler
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780140621785
Author: Samuel Butler
Publisher: Washington Square Press
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.

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