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.

What a read!!

There are a few really interesting ways of assessing life in this book. Those gems were worth every minute of wandering.