Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler
The novel follows the life of Ernest Pontifex, from his birth in the early 19th century until his middle age, and his struggle against the restrictive morality of Victorian England. Raised in a stiflingly oppressive household by his hypocritical clergyman father and submissive mother, Ernest eventually rebels against his upbringing, leading to his imprisonment for a minor crime. Upon his release, he rejects his past life and religious beliefs, eventually finding happiness and success as a writer. The novel provides a scathing satire of Victorian-era attitudes towards religion and family life.
The 580th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1903
- Nationality
- British
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 400-500
- Words
- 164,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 12th on The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels (Modern Library)
- 246th on The Complete 500: OCLC (OCLC)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- Inteliquest's World's 100 Greatest Books of All-Time (InteliQuest)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- 101 of the World's Greatest Books (1950) (101 of the World's Greatest Books (Book))
- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written (Easton Press)