The Way of All Flesh (Giant Thrifts) (Paperback)

by Samuel Butler (Author) "WHEN I was small boy at the beginning of the century I remember an old man who wore knee-breeches and worsted stockings, and who used..." (more)
Key Phrases: spiritual pathology, Miss Pontifex, Master Ernest, Church of England (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Autobiographical novel by Samuel Butler, published posthumously in 1903 though written almost two decades earlier. 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. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

Hailed by George Bernard Shaw as "one of the summits of human achievement," Butler's autobiographical account of a harsh upbringing and troubled adulthood 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.

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Product Details Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Dover Publications (August 11, 2004) Language: English ISBN-10: 0486434664 ISBN-13: 978-0486434667 Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #134,365 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #3 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Butler, Samuel

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WHEN I was small boy at the beginning of the century I remember an old man who wore knee-breeches and worsted stockings, and who used to hobble about the street of our village with help of a stick. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
spiritual pathology

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Miss Pontifex, Master Ernest, Church of England, Miss Maitland, George Pontifex, Miss Snow, Ashpit Place, College of Spiritual Pathology, John Pontifexes, Church of Rome, Ernest Pontifex, High Church, Archbishop of Canterbury, Dean Alford, Lord Lonsford, New Testament, Fetter Lane, Laystall Street, Miss Allaby, Miss Skinner, Miss Wrights, Gower Street, Holy Spirit, Paternoster Row, Royal Academy

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 100 books:

• Life And Habit by Samuel Butler on 4 pages
• On the Origin of Species (Penguin Classics) by Charles Darwin on page 199, and Back Matter
• The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin on page 199, and Back Matter
• The Origin Of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition by Charles Darwin on page 199, and Back Matter
• Unto This Last and Other Writings (Penguin Classics) by John Ruskin in Back Matter

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100 books cite this book:

• Samuel Butler: A Memoir Part Two by Henry Festing Jones on 8 pages
• The Great Sayings of Jesus: Proverbs, Parables and Prayers (Classic Bible Series) by Richard Holloway on 8 pages
• God's Funeral: A Biography of Faith and Doubt in Western Civilization by A.N. Wilson on 6 pages
• John Galsworthy: L'homme, le romancier, le critique social (Etudes anglo-saxonnes) (French Edition) by Alec Frechet on 5 pages
• How To Show Things With Words: A Study On Logic Language And Literature (Trends in Linguistics. Studies and Monographs) by Rui Linhares-Dias on 4 pages

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34 Reviews 5 star:  (12) 4 star:  (10) 3 star:  (8) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:  (2)           Average Customer Review 3.8 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 53 of 54 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars The Victorian Novel Grows Up, September 30, 2003 By  brewster22 "brewster22" (Evanston, IL United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Way of All Flesh (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback) "The Way of All Flesh" seems to be best known as the Victorian novel that thumbed its nose at Victorian novels. For this reason, it's frequently mentioned in talks of literary history, but I don't ever hear of anyone praising Samuel Butler's novel from an artistic perspective. Actually, I find the book more interesting for its story than for its place in the development of 19th and 20th century literature. I tried to read this novel once and only got through the first 100 pages or so. I found it remarkably dull and dry, and the tone of the first-person narrator (Mr. Overton), who stops the action every 10 pages or so to offer personal asides that reveal more about him than about the characters he's writing about, I thought to be snide and irritating. But I hate not finishing a book, so I picked it up again, this time understanding that it would be a dry read and prepared to appreciate it for its historical context. To my surprise, I found myself caught up in the story and thought the whole thing very funny. I can't believe I missed all the humour the first time through. I hesitate to give this novel too much credit for deflating the pompous bubble of Victorian morality, because other authors writing at the same time as Butler were doing the same thing (Dickens for one can be incredibly caustic). But there is a maturity to Butler's writing that is not present in other Victorian writers. This novel feels much more modern than anything else written pre-1900, and even feels more modern than some books written after. Unlike Dickens, whose characters are either all good or all bad and have about as much depth as the characters you'd find in a comic book (this isn't a criticism--I like Dickens), Butler's characters (at least Ernest, his protagonist) seem very much alive and flawed. Ernest is easily influenced by everyone around him and makes decisions based on how he thinks he should act rather than how he wants to act. He doesn't know what he wants out of life, he's a screw up, he's got lousy luck. All of these things make him quite endearing because they make him so human. The scathing criticism of religious hypocrisy and moral bombast exhibited by the majority of people in Ernest's life can be funny, especially if you agree with it (as I do), but the story itself is much more interesting than the social commentary. I would definitely recommend this book. It's not necessarily a page turner, but it consistently held my interest. Just remember that it's supposed to be funny. Think of Butler as a 19th century Evelyn Waugh, and you should do just fine. 29 of 30 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic Remains Fresh and Stimulating, October 29, 2000 By  Gregory N. Hullender (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Way of All Flesh (Penguin Classics) (Paperback) The Way of All Flesh covers six generations of strife in the Pontifex family, and spans a period from 1750 to 1880. However, the bulk of the story concerns the life of Ernest Pontifex, from about age 5 up to age 28, and describes his unsatisfactory relations with his parents, his school, his church, his wife, and his friends. Sometimes we feel sorry for Ernest, because many of his problems are caused by unbelievably cruel or thoughtless people, and sometimes we're furious with him, because he himself is the author of at least half of his troubles, but either way his misfortunes make him stronger and move him steadily along the path to maturity. Throughout, the book remains an easy read, although the writing is very witty and often rewards close examination. Even today, 100 years after the book's publication, a reader finds many things to identify with. 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. Given how much change the last century has seen, it's surprising how many of the issues still seem fresh and relevant, and the book definitely makes you think about them. It is easy to see how many people have described reading The Way of All Flesh as a turning point in their lives. A point worth keeping in mind: the characters are all described from Ernest's point of view. Several clues tell us that Ernest exaggerates the cruelty of various characters - some of whom seem evil beyond belief, and I think it's quite clear that, at these points, we're supposed to smile at Ernest - not shake our heads at the author. This is most obvious with Ernest's schoolmaster, Dr. Skinner, whom Ernest consistently sees as a pompous fool, but who we also know is very popular with the best students, and who shows other signs of being a much better man than Ernest believes him to be. The footnotes in my edition (Penguin Classics 1986) are very skimpy, focusing on comparing elements from Ernest's fictional life to Samuel Butler's real one. The failure of the notes to translate passages in French or Latin, or to explain very contemporary references, is inexcusable. (E.g. but for the recent controversy over his Beatification, we'd have no clue that "Pio Nono" was Pope Pius IX.) Hoggart's introduction (1966) is decent but a bit dated, not having weathered as well as the book itself! 16 of 18 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Makes Dickens look like fluff, September 25, 2002 By  Paul M. Burns (austin, tx) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Way of All Flesh (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback) I read this book after reading all the reviews on Amazon not knowing what to expect: Incredibly boring or amazing insightful? I have read many books written in that same time period. I believe this to be the most mature work to come out of England in the late 19th Century(although it was published later). I enjoy Dickens, Hardy, and Eliot very much, but Butler makes their works look like grocery store fiction. I can see how many people might be bored if they were expecting a great story. While the story is excellent, it is more a book about ideas. Butler uses his hero to voice his commentary on Victorian ideals. Most of it is still very relevant today, though. I think it will be most relevant for people that have been exposed to the religious right wing who still hold many Victorian values. I enjoyed the characters and the story was compelling. There are many beautiful passages. It was very funny at times and somewhat sarcastic. The narrator reminded me of Hemmingway born 50 years earlier in England. What impressed me the most was Butler's modern style of writing. Much less wordy than Dickens. Dickens would have taken 800 pages to express the same thoughts. I also felt a real kindred to the main character Ernest. This is ultimately a coming of age book which most people will be able to relate to in one way or another (unless you haven't grown up yet). I would recommend it to all serious readers.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read Very interesting character study of an abused boy in a dysfunctional family and how that played out in his life. A little tedious writing but worth staying with it. Published 1 month ago by Mark L. Hess 5.0 out of 5 stars The way of all flesh Book is what my husband wanted. He read it when he was a young man. Just a review. Published 17 months ago by Peter Low 4.0 out of 5 stars Scathing depiction of Victorian values A slow, difficult read yet not without merit. At times scathing at others jocular yet always insightful. Read more Published on November 14, 2006 by Rehan Dost 4.0 out of 5 stars A fine depiction of the changin' times There is nothing remarkable about the literary style of Butler's book; it reads like a million and a half other 19th century British novels. Read more Published on July 28, 2006 by Steve 4.0 out of 5 stars it's a grower... it's a grower. it took me a long time to summon the patience to read further than the 50th page or so. it took far too long to get on with the story. Read more Published on June 18, 2006 by daniel whitfield 5.0 out of 5 stars An evening spent with Butler is an evening well-spent A rich, intelligent, historically informative masterpiece that tells the modern reader about the concerns, delusions, pretensions and prejudices of Englishmen of the 1700s and... Read more Published on January 21, 2006 by Drake-by-the-Lake 5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Book About Dysfunctional Families It has been frequently observed that those who write history define it, and so it is with this wonderful novel which is, in large part, Butler's autobiography. Read more Published on November 19, 2005 by Diego Banducci 5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Great Novels of All Time I've now read this book at least ten times, and every time I do it seems to get better. Butler is a bridge between the Victorian and 20th century novelist--although the book has... Read more Published on April 16, 2005 by Anna Graham 4.0 out of 5 stars A Book That Caused Quite a Stir When it was Published. This book did cause quite a stir when it was published. Samuel Butler wrote in a "no-holds-barred" style that attacked the Victorian era at its core. Read more Published on January 19, 2005 by S. Schwartz 3.0 out of 5 stars HONEST FUNNY AND SHALLOW The honesty is great. He nails the depiction of a dysfunctional Christian family, and its warping effect on the protagonist. But the resolution is shallow. Read more Published on September 14, 2004 by David Porta Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (August 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486434664
• ISBN-13: 978-0486434667
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #134,365 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

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  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Butler, Samuel

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Victorian Novel Grows Up, September 30, 2003

By	brewster22 "brewster22" (Evanston, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way of All Flesh (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback)

"The Way of All Flesh" seems to be best known as the Victorian novel that thumbed its nose at Victorian novels. For this reason, it's frequently mentioned in talks of literary history, but I don't ever hear of anyone praising Samuel Butler's novel from an artistic perspective. Actually, I find the book more interesting for its story than for its place in the development of 19th and 20th century literature.

I tried to read this novel once and only got through the first 100 pages or so. I found it remarkably dull and dry, and the tone of the first-person narrator (Mr. Overton), who stops the action every 10 pages or so to offer personal asides that reveal more about him than about the characters he's writing about, I thought to be snide and irritating.

But I hate not finishing a book, so I picked it up again, this time understanding that it would be a dry read and prepared to appreciate it for its historical context. To my surprise, I found myself caught up in the story and thought the whole thing very funny. I can't believe I missed all the humour the first time through.

I hesitate to give this novel too much credit for deflating the pompous bubble of Victorian morality, because other authors writing at the same time as Butler were doing the same thing (Dickens for one can be incredibly caustic). But there is a maturity to Butler's writing that is not present in other Victorian writers. This novel feels much more modern than anything else written pre-1900, and even feels more modern than some books written after. Unlike Dickens, whose characters are either all good or all bad and have about as much depth as the characters you'd find in a comic book (this isn't a criticism--I like Dickens), Butler's characters (at least Ernest, his protagonist) seem very much alive and flawed. Ernest is easily influenced by everyone around him and makes decisions based on how he thinks he should act rather than how he wants to act. He doesn't know what he wants out of life, he's a screw up, he's got lousy luck. All of these things make him quite endearing because they make him so human. The scathing criticism of religious hypocrisy and moral bombast exhibited by the majority of people in Ernest's life can be funny, especially if you agree with it (as I do), but the story itself is much more interesting than the social commentary.

I would definitely recommend this book. It's not necessarily a page turner, but it consistently held my interest. Just remember that it's supposed to be funny. Think of Butler as a 19th century Evelyn Waugh, and you should do just fine.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic Remains Fresh and Stimulating, October 29, 2000

By	Gregory N. Hullender (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Way of All Flesh (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

The Way of All Flesh covers six generations of strife in the Pontifex family, and spans a period from 1750 to 1880. However, the bulk of the story concerns the life of Ernest Pontifex, from about age 5 up to age 28, and describes his unsatisfactory relations with his parents, his school, his church, his wife, and his friends. Sometimes we feel sorry for Ernest, because many of his problems are caused by unbelievably cruel or thoughtless people, and sometimes we're furious with him, because he himself is the author of at least half of his troubles, but either way his misfortunes make him stronger and move him steadily along the path to maturity. Throughout, the book remains an easy read, although the writing is very witty and often rewards close examination.

Even today, 100 years after the book's publication, a reader finds many things to identify with. 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. Given how much change the last century has seen, it's surprising how many of the issues still seem fresh and relevant, and the book definitely makes you think about them. It is easy to see how many people have described reading The Way of All Flesh as a turning point in their lives.

A point worth keeping in mind: the characters are all described from Ernest's point of view. Several clues tell us that Ernest exaggerates the cruelty of various characters - some of whom seem evil beyond belief, and I think it's quite clear that, at these points, we're supposed to smile at Ernest - not shake our heads at the author. This is most obvious with Ernest's schoolmaster, Dr. Skinner, whom Ernest consistently sees as a pompous fool, but who we also know is very popular with the best students, and who shows other signs of being a much better man than Ernest believes him to be.

The footnotes in my edition (Penguin Classics 1986) are very skimpy, focusing on comparing elements from Ernest's fictional life to Samuel Butler's real one. The failure of the notes to translate passages in French or Latin, or to explain very contemporary references, is inexcusable. (E.g. but for the recent controversy over his Beatification, we'd have no clue that "Pio Nono" was Pope Pius IX.) Hoggart's introduction (1966) is decent but a bit dated, not having weathered as well as the book itself!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes Dickens look like fluff, September 25, 2002

By	Paul M. Burns (austin, tx) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Way of All Flesh (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback)

I read this book after reading all the reviews on Amazon not knowing what to expect: Incredibly boring or amazing insightful? I have read many books written in that same time period. I believe this to be the most mature work to come out of England in the late 19th Century(although it was published later). I enjoy Dickens, Hardy, and Eliot very much, but Butler makes their works look like grocery store fiction. I can see how many people might be bored if they were expecting a great story. While the story is excellent, it is more a book about ideas. Butler uses his hero to voice his commentary on Victorian ideals. Most of it is still very relevant today, though. I think it will be most relevant for people that have been exposed to the religious right wing who still hold many Victorian values. I enjoyed the characters and the story was compelling. There are many beautiful passages. It was very funny at times and somewhat sarcastic. The narrator reminded me of Hemmingway born 50 years earlier in England. What impressed me the most was Butler's modern style of writing. Much less wordy than Dickens. Dickens would have taken 800 pages to express the same thoughts. I also felt a real kindred to the main character Ernest. This is ultimately a coming of age book which most people will be able to relate to in one way or another (unless you haven't grown up yet). I would recommend it to all serious readers.