London: Grant Richards, 1903 First edition. Hardcover book . Maroon cloth with gilt title to spine and front, top edges gilt. 423pp, plus publisher's catalogue. With introductory Note by R.A Streatfield, who edited the manuscript left by Butler at his death. Good condition. Covers rubbed, lightly bumped corners, abrasions to lower edges and some rubbing to gilt. Binding sound and pages clean, though fore-edge and lower edges are browned with small stain mark, and endpapers are a little grubby. Pictures available.

Synopsis

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.

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Details

Bookseller: David Ford Books (GB)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 27483
Title: The Way of All Flesh.
Author: Butler, Samuel:
Book Condition: Used
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: London: Grant Richards, 1903
Bookseller catalogs: Fiction;

Terms of Sale

David Ford Books

Payment by GB Sterling Pound cheque, Bank Transfer, PAYPAL. Any extra postage required will be quoted at time of order confirmation. Books may be returned within 7 days, with prior notification, if not as described

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David Ford Books

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About David Ford Books

Member of Provincial Bookfairs Association.
David Ford Books is a member of the P.B.F.A. and sells a wide range of quality out of print and antiquarian books through their book sales and at bookfair throughout the UK. The condition of our books is of the utmost importance to us, with few falling below the VG and many in Fine condition. All dust wrappers are protected. Should you wish to discuss a book, or your requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or (as I prefer to talk to customers personally) by telephone.

Glossary
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Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Edges: The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
Cloth: "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Gilt: The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Spine: The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.