Erewhon (ePub)

Samuel Butler, born on December 4, 1835, in Langar Rectory, Nottinghamshire, England, was a distinguished Victorian-era novelist, satirist, and critic. Better known for his satirical novel 'Erewhon' (1872), which stands as a landmark of the utopian genre, Butler laid the groundwork for future dystopian works. 'Erewhon' is a palindrome of 'nowhere,' providing a clever linguistic twist significant of Butler's renowned wit. The book offers a thought-provoking critique of Victorian society, exploring themes of religion, technology, and morality through a fictional civilization's customs and laws. Butler's keen eye dissected the hypocrisies of his day with sharp literary style, often employing irony and deadpan narrative modes that impacted both literature and philosophy. His concern with the evolution of machines, for instance, predicted the anxieties of modernity regarding artificial intelligence and technology. Although 'Erewhon' remains his most famous work, other significant contributions by Butler include a semi-autobiographical novel, 'The Way of All Flesh' (1903), published posthumously, which revealed his unorthodox views on Victorian morality and has since been recognized as a classic in its exploration of family life. In his lifetime, Butler also delved into art criticism, evolutionary thought, and translations of Homer. Samuel Butler's influence persisted into the 20th century as an iconoclast and intellectual force, bridging literature and philosophy with his often unappreciated humor and insight. He died on June 18, 1902, but his literary legacy endures, retaining relevance in discussions on human versus machine dichotomy, and societal norms.