The Way of All Flesh: Introduction by P. N. Furbank Hardcover - 1993

The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler is a semi-autobiographical novel that attacks Victorian-era hypocrisy. The story traces the history of the Pontifex family from the early eighteenth century until about 1880 and focuses, for the most part, on the life of young Ernest Pontifex, the novel’s protagonist. Yet Ernest isn’t born until 1835, in the book’s 17th chapter. Butler uses the first 16 chapters to provide a psychological portrait of the Pontifex family background as a means of allowing readers to understand what factors have gone into forming Ernest’s personality and the longevity of the chains of tradition he must break.

Upon publication in 1903, the book seemed very much of its time, an early 20th century groundbreaker alongside the work of Sigmund Freud and Pablo Picasso. The Way of All Flesh seemed to celebrate the end of the Victorian age just as it was decidedly over. But in fact, Butler had written the book decades earlier, between 1873 and 1884, though he deemed it too shocking for publication during his lifetime. As a result, Richard Alexander Streatfeild, a friend of Butler’s, arranged the publication — as the author requested of him — a year after his death. Streatfeild proved to be a good friend indeed as The Way of All Flesh was ranked twelfth on the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

This book depicts the lives of four generations and is narrated by family friend Overton although it focuses on Ernest Pontifex and his respect for his great-grandfather John. His father Theo is the books initial concern, though,and he grows after ordination into cruel and disciplinarian attitudes to parenthood which affect young Ernest. As the story progresses we see the latter give his money to a pregnant maid, become a priest and imprisoned for mistaking a respectable lady for a whore. Ernest is released only to begin an unwise relationship with the maid, Ellen. The tale and its conclusion question the values of Victorian society and offer the solace of the individual mind when convention fails. Please Note: This book has been reformatted to be easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.

Details

• Title The Way of All Flesh: Introduction by P. N. Furbank
• Author Samuel Butler; Introduction by P. N. Furbank
• Binding Hardcover
• Edition Fourth Printing
• Pages 416
• Volumes 1
• Language ENG
• Publisher Everyman's Library, Westminister, Maryland, U.S.A.
• Date January 11, 1993
• ISBN 9780679417187 / 0679417184
• Weight 1.12 lbs (0.51 kg)
• Dimensions 8.28 x 5.28 x 1.15 in (21.03 x 13.41 x 2.92 cm)
• Reading level 1340
• Themes
  • Chronological Period: 19th Century
  • Cultural Region: British
• Library of Congress subjects Domestic fiction, England
• Library of Congress Catalog Number 92052916
• Dewey Decimal Code FIC