The Way of All Flesh
Price: $600.00
Hard Cover. London: Grant Richards, 1903. First Edition. Fine.
First edition, first printing. Finely bound by Zaehnsdorf in full red morocco with five raised bands to spine, spine and front panel lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins, top edge gilt. Spine a touch faded, else a very fine copy. This semi-autobiographical novel was written from 1873 to 1884, though not published until 1903, after the author's death. Supremely critical of the Victorian era dignification of England, Butler would have likely been met with outrage if he chose to publish this piece of writing during his lifetime; instead, the book is regarded as one of many critiques of Victorian society published after Queen Victoria's reign. The book has been praised many British authors, including George Orwell: "[it is] a great book because it gives an honest picture of the relationship between father and son, and it could do that because Butler was a truly independent observer, and above all because he was courageous." Item #SBU004
