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 569th greatest book of all time
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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)
- Inteliquest's World's 100 Greatest Books of All-Time (InteliQuest)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written (Easton Press)