Sign-In
Cart
Selections From the Note-Books of Samuel Butler
Hardcover
PhilosophyLiterary CriticismFiction Anthologies
ISBN13: 9781025974392
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 270
Weight: 1.22
Height: 0.63 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Selections From the Note-Books of Samuel Butler offers an intimate and profound glimpse into the mind of one of the most original and provocative thinkers of the late Victorian era. Best known for his satirical works and insightful social critiques, Butler kept extensive notebooks throughout his life, recording a vast array of observations, aphorisms, and philosophical inquiries. This collection gathers the most compelling of these entries, showcasing his characteristic wit, skepticism, and intellectual independence.
The work covers a diverse range of subjects, from art and music to biology, religion, and the nuances of human behavior. Readers will find Butler's sharp-edged reflections on the Victorian establishment alongside his innovative thoughts on evolution and the creative process. His writing is marked by a conversational yet piercing style, often challenging the conventional wisdom of his day with a refreshing, iconoclastic perspective that feels surprisingly modern.
Whether examining the complexities of the English language or the oddities of everyday life, Butler's notes remain remarkably engaging. Selections From the Note-Books of Samuel Butler serves as an essential companion to his major novels like Erewhon and The Way of All Flesh, providing vital context for his creative philosophy and revealing the restless curiosity of a writer who sought to understand the underlying mechanics of the world around him.
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.
1 different editions
Also available
Also from
Butler, Samuel
Samuel Butler - Erewhon: "Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises"
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Samuel Butler - God the Known and God the Unknown: "Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself"
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
The way of all flesh. Samuel Butler. With introduction By: William Lyon Phelps ( is a semi-autobiographical ) NOVEL
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Selected Essays: With a Biographical Sketch of the Author by Henry Festing Jones
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Hudibras: In Three Parts. Written in the Time of the Civil Wars. by Samuel Butler, Esq
Butler, Samuel
Hardcover
The Odyssey: Rendered Into English Prose for the use of Those who Cannot Read the Original
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Shakespeare's Sonnets Reconsidered: and in part rearranged with introductory chapters, notes, and a reprint of the original 1609 edition
Butler, Samuel
Shakespeare, William
Paperback
The Iliad of Homer: rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Wasteland 3 Latest Guide: Best Guide, Walkthrough, Tips and Hints to Become a Pro Player
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Godfall: COMPLETE GUIDE: Becoming A Pro Player In Godfall (Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies)
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Hudibras: In Three Parts. Written in the Time of the Civil Wars. by Samuel Butler, Esq
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Samuel Butler - Humbidbras: "Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule"
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Samuel Butler - Essays on Life, Art, Science: "Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man"
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Samuel Butler - The Odyssey of Homer: "Self-preservation is the first law of nature"
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Samuel Butler - The Way of All Flesh: "Brigands demand your money or your life; women require both"
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
The Life and Letters of Dr. Samuel Butler: Headmaster of Shrewsbury School 1798-1836. Vol. I
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Erewhon and Erewhon Revisited: Two Classic Victorian Satires of Utopia, Religion, and Society
Butler, Samuel
Hardcover
Erewhon Revisited: A Classic Victorian Satire of Belief, Authority, and Social Myth
Butler, Samuel
Hardcover
Erewhon Revisited Twenty Years Later, Both By The Original Discoverer Of The Country And By His Son
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Erewhon; or, Over the range. By: Samuel Butler (4 December 1835 - 18 June 1902): Novel (World's classic's)
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Aeschyli Tragoediae Quae Supersunt: Deperditarum Fabularum Fragmenta Et Scholia Graeca Ex Editione Thomae Stanleii, Cum Versione Latina Ab Ipso Emenda
Stanley, Thomas
Butler, Samuel
Paperback
Also in
Fiction Anthologies
On Quality: An Inquiry Into Excellence: Unpublished and Selected Writings
Pirsig, Robert M.
Pirsig, Wendy K.
Hardcover
James Weldon Johnson: Writings (Loa #145): The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man / Along This Way / Essays and Editorials / Selected Poems
Johnson, James Weldon
Hardcover
Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Stoker, Bram
Shelley, Mary
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Paperback
Sez I to Myself: The Collected Essays of Frank and Malachy McCourt
McCourt, Malachy
McCourt, Frank
Hardcover
Here in New England: Unforgettable Stories of People, Places, and Memories That Connect Us All.
Allen, Mel
Paperback
The Greek Tragedies: Seventeen Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides
Euripides
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Paperback
Learn Russian with Beginner Stories: Interlinear Russian to English
Hyplern, Bermuda Word
Gettys, Serafima
Van Den End, Kees
Paperback
Obvious Adams -- The Story of a Successful Businessman: New Business Edition
Updegraff, Robert R.
Paperback
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings: Poems, Tales, Essays, and Reviews
Poe, Edgar Allan
Hardcover
Bookin' in the Big House: What I Learned Leading a Women's Prison Book Club
Devoto, Pat Cunningham
Paperback
Japanese Folktales for Language Learners: Bilingual Legends and Fables in Japanese and English (Free Online Audio Recording)
Sato, Eriko
Sato, Anna
Paperback
The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories, volume 1
Fager, Anders
Cubas, Cristina Fernández
Pedraza, Pilar
Paperback
The Serpent Mound, Adams County, Ohio (Facsimile Reprint)
Randall, E. O.
Randall, Emilius Oviatt
Paperback