The Way of All Flesh – Samuel Butler

Title: The Way of All Flesh

Author: Samuel Butler

Publisher: Collins Publishers

Edition & Year: 1961 Edition

Pages & Size: 414 pages · Hardcover · 4.5 in × 7 in

Explore the incisive brilliance of Samuel Butler with The Way of All Flesh, an enduring masterpiece of nineteenth-century literature presented here in a handsome 1961 Collins hardcover edition. Spanning 414 pages in a compact 4.5 × 7 in format, this influential novel examines the moral and emotional struggles of Ernest Pontifex as he attempts to free himself from the suffocating expectations of his Victorian family.

Originally written in the 1870s but published posthumously in 1903, Butler’s novel is renowned for its fearless critique of conventional piety, authoritarian parenting, and the social rigidity of its age. Combining biting satire with compassionate insight, Butler crafts a narrative that is as humorous as it is profound, making The Way of All Flesh a touchstone for modern thought about individuality, morality, and personal freedom.

This 1961 edition offers readers and collectors:

• Literary Significance: A pivotal work heralding the transition from Victorian ideals to modern skepticism.

• Sharp Social Commentary: Butler’s prose dismantles the pretenses of religious orthodoxy and domestic tyranny.

• Convenient Format: A 4.5 × 7 in hardcover, easy to handle yet elegant on any shelf.

• Historical Value: A mid-20th-century printing that reflects the lasting impact of Butler’s daring critique.

Perfect for students, scholars, or general readers interested in classics that challenge societal norms, this volume preserves Butler’s timeless message about authenticity, resilience, and the quest for intellectual freedom.

• Seminal Victorian-era satire, first published posthumously in 1903

• Offers a compelling portrait of a young man’s rebellion against oppressive traditions

• 1961 Collins hardcover edition, 414 pages

• Compact size (4.5 × 7 in) for comfortable reading and display

• Essential for collectors of English classics and social commentaries