The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler

The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The back cover blurb touting The Way of All Flesh as an novel that "sounded the death-knell of the Victorian age", intrigued me. This is a tale of Ernest Pontifex and his truly awful parents. His father beats him regularly and both mother and father engage in a psychological abuse that is particularly insidious. Cunning and malicious. Compounding this treatment is that Ernest's parents see themselves as paragons of virtue and sacrifice in regards to the treatment of their son.

Naturally, Ernest's development suffers mightily and he endures a series of setbacks both minor and major. (Well-rendered and often painful to read.) Will he ever break free, assert himself, and defy his parents?

The Way of All Flesh is at its best when Ernest is front and center. The novel, however, gets bogged down by pages of exposition. The narrator diverges from the story to engage in philosophical and religious discussions that range from the general to the vague. This is especially the case when discussing Ernest's work as an author. I was bored.

I would recommend this novel for a view into the dark side of the Victorian family, displaying an outward morality and propriety when actually a prim reign of terror. Ernest Pontifex is a memorable character. I'm wavering between three and four stars but the dull moments overshadow the brilliant ones.

Note: The edition I read has a different cover but the page count and publisher is the same.

Cover Distraction Rating: I'll say high. Not because of the what's on the cover but because of the condition of my paperback. It was brittle like Pringles and started falling apart the second I began reading it.

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