Samuel Butler (1835 – 1902) was an English novelist and critic best known for Erewhon (1872) and The Way of All Flesh (published posthumously in 1903). His writings challenged Victorian norms, religious dogma, and evolutionary theory.
Born in Nottinghamshire to a strict Anglican family, Butler rejected religious orthodoxy, leading him to emigrate to New Zealand in 1859. There, he became a sheep farmer before returning to England, where he gained fame with Erewhon, a satirical utopian novel exploring technology and human evolution. He later critiqued Charles Darwin’s theories, emphasizing the role of inherited memory in evolution.
Butler’s semi-autobiographical novel The Way of All Flesh attacked Victorian morality, exposing hypocrisy in family and religious life. He also contributed translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey, still studied today.
Despite his literary success, Butler remained an outsider, preferring intellectual debates over social circles. His work continues to influence discussions on religion, science, and philosophy.