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Selected Essays: The Travellers' Library, No. 55
Paperback
PhilosophyLetters & EssaysLiterary Criticism
ISBN13: 9781025977546
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 264
Weight: 0.82
Height: 0.55 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Selected Essays brings together a compelling array of writings from the sharp-witted and iconoclastic Samuel Butler, a figure who challenged the very foundations of Victorian thought. Known for his satirical masterpiece Erewhon, Butler applies his unique intellect here to a broad spectrum of topics, including science, religion, art, and the social mores of his day. These essays reveal a thinker deeply engaged with the controversies of the late nineteenth century, particularly the debates surrounding evolution and the rigid structures of institutionalized religion.
The collection showcases Butler's mastery of the essay form, blending humor with rigorous logic to expose hypocrisy and encourage independent inquiry. From his critiques of professional science to his musings on the creative process, the works within this volume highlight his profound influence on subsequent generations of writers and philosophers. Butler's prose is characterized by its clarity and provocative nature, making his observations on the human condition as relevant today as when they were first penned. Selected Essays is an essential resource for those seeking to understand the intellectual landscape of the Victorian era through the eyes of one of its most rebellious and insightful contributors.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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