The Way of All Flesh

By: Samuel Butler

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

This brilliant satirical novel, tracing the life and loves of Ernest Pontifex, has continued in popularity since its original publication in 1903. Every generation finds in The Way of All Flesh a reaffirmation of youth's rightful struggle against the tyranny of harsh parents and its admirable will for freedom of personal expression.

This is one of the most fascinating character studies you will ever read, the story of a young man who survives the baleful influence of a hateful, hypocritical father, a doting mother, and a debauched wife, to emerge as a decent, happy human being. It is also a stinging satire of Victorian gentry, their pomposity, sentimentality, pseudo-respectability, and refined cruelty, a satire still capable of delivering death-blows to the same traits that exist in our present world.

(P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

classic satire- would make Jon Stewart laugh

I found this laugh-out-loud funny in places. I read the novel in the 80s and it was even better as an audiobook. My prof for a course in 19th century novel said about it, "No one born in this century can enjoy this humour." I disagreed with her then, and still do --as would the other reviewers! Like good wine, it got better with age.

This novel would appeal to fans of Anthony Trollope, with satire a bit more savage and prose less meandering than the Postmaster's.

The prose is at times dense, so it's perhaps not a novel for listeners new to audiobooks if they want to grasp all the satire which is often conveyed quickly and/or through understatement.

Davidson is one of my favourite narrators, but this is not a sample of his best work --with, for example, the audible breathing as mentioned by another reviewer.

Simply Phenomenal

One of the best novels I've read or heard.

A masterpiece&the narrator isn't so bad after all

When I originally attempted to listen to this book, I was completely offended by the narrator. After bearing through it for some time (and adjusting the equalizer to drown out his slurping and breathing) I was treated to a wonderful story about morals, morality, and moralism. The difference is subtle, but striking, and Butler conveys it masterfully with fine character development, plot, and not too little psychological and philosophical anlysis. It is even better than I expected too because the narrator turns out to be an amazing actor and he is really able to draw the audience in with his diverse voice. The book is truly a masterpiece and it is a wonder how it was written before the 20th century (so many of its themes became mainstays in the literature of the last century). Listen and enjoy.

A surprisingly funny coming of age story

I love this book. It follows a young boy with a cold, overbearing father and loving but profoundly misguided mother on his journey from youth to adulthood. The story is told from the point of view of an old family friend, and the events are therefore filtered through the perceptions and prejudices of this iconoclastic and opinionated character, who fills the text with biting, hilarious asides about the other characters and the society in which they live. He's my favorite part about the whole book, and there are many other very well-drawn characters too. But the story is also interesting on a plot level and on the level of a social critique, which is nearly as applicable today as I imagine it was when this book was written. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy classic novels. If you don't enjoy stories told at a leisurely pace in an old fashioned (but always elegant) style then this won't be your cup of tea.

Also, the narration in this audio edition is spot on. Frederick Davidson does an excellent job enacting the sneering, condescending but utterly likable narrator.

Entertaining like Trollope

This is a novel you see in all the shops but no-one ever seems to have read. It's written in the classic, tongue-in-cheek pompous ironic Victorian style, rather similar to Trollope. The plot is nothing much: I think the novel is autobiographical. Beneath the humour there's a lot of bitterness. There are also lots of witty philosophical asides and digressions, a la Tom Jones.
I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and he reader. The reader's default voice is a little on the posh side, but that's appropriate; and he differentiates between the characters well. If you like Fielding, Thackeray, and Trollope, you'll probably enjoy this.

Commentary on Family, class, and religion

Any additional comments?

I thought this was a very well written book. It reminded me of Dickens. I laughed out loud a few times (similar to Dickens) at the turn of phrase Butler uses. There's no high drama here -- just a very solid story of a family that is dealing with generational concerns over class, religion, and family relationships. The narrator was very good.

sardonic wit

Frederick Davidson does a great job as the droll, sarcastic narrator of this story. It is still funny, even a century later. The plot does get bogged down in philosophical thoughts and bits of Christian theology, and the first part of the book is better than the second, but I enjoyed the reading and marveled at how much the truth of how we are treated as youth matters as to what kind of adults we become.
After reading this book, it is fascinating to look up history on the life of Samuel Butler and see how thinly this novel is a disguised autobiography. He is really a tremendously talented writer.

Wonderful narration of a Victorian classic

I have set aside this novel as one I should read someday for years. I an so glad to have discovered this audio version instead. The excellent narration adds the proper tone and wit which may have been lost in reading. I purchased the Kindle companion which syncs with audio to allow myself to reread passages that require a second glance.. Butler's novel is an excellent story. Highly recommend to those who enjoy classics of the time period.

The Way of All Empires

Were it not for the Modern Library Top 100 Best Novels list, I would not have likely known anything about this book. it is, for this reason, I am glad that such lists are compiled.

The novel is set in mid-19th Century England across five generations of an English Upper Middle Class family. England is in the throes of the Victorian era on the crux of English decline as a shrinking empire, evolving religious state and scientific discovery calling into question not only England's, but man's place in the world.

Having been raised in a profoundly religious family where the pressures of joining the clergy dangled expectantly over my head, I related to the main character's dilemma, particularly as his scholarly and worldly explorations collide with sincerely held religious beliefs.

The book is satirically written and skewers Victorian sensibilities. Likewise, it is obvious how confirmed bachelorhood and intense non-sexual and non-romantic opposite sex relationships between a few of the main characters colors the viewpoint, attitude and tone of the novel to hint at a lifestyle whose name would not be uttered in 1903.

As with so many novels of the period, this book requires the reader's patience to find it's voice. But it warrants that humble request.

Relatable and endearing.

For me, this story was further confirmation of the unending humanity of people. So many of the events seemed entirely relatably modern, despite being nearly 150 years past.