“IT RANKS AMONG THE GREAT NOVELS OF THE PERIOD”

BUTLER, Samuel. The Way of All Flesh. London: Jonathan Cape, (1924). Octavo, contemporary full blue calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $600.

Later edition of Samuel Butler’s posthumously published autobiographical novel, handsomely bound by Riviere & Son.

“The childhood of Ernest Pontifex in The Way of All Flesh, is a portrait of Butler’s own; and nearly all its characters are drawn directly from his relatives… It ranks among the great novels of the period, and remains a blistering indictment of the worst kind of Victorian religiosity… Butler has now taken his place among the major English satirists… as an important influence in modern fiction” (Kunitz & Haycraft, 101). The first edition was published in 1903. CBEL, 729. Booklabel of internationally recognized book collector Abel E. Berland. Among his 530 treasures were one copy of each of the four Shakespeare folios. “Berland kept none of his books behind glass to be venerated. They were all on open shelves in his library, to be lived with, touched and enjoyed. ‘The most important thing I can say to you about these books is that I never take them for granted… I am nothing more than their temporary keeper. It is my privilege to visit with them every day, and to be in their company” (New York Times).

Slight rubbing to extremities and a bit of toning to spine. A near-fine copy, handsomely bound.