Synopsis
Erewhon (English Edition) by Samuel Butler is a brilliantly imaginative satirical novel that turns the familiar world inside out. Disguised as a traveler’s account of a remote and mysterious country, the narrative draws readers into a society whose customs feel both absurd and unsettlingly recognizable—an invented “elsewhere” that becomes a mirror held up to Victorian assumptions about morality, religion, justice, and progress.
First published in 1872, Erewhon remains strikingly modern in its wit and daring ideas. Butler’s calm, observant storytelling voice lends an air of plausibility to the most outrageous inversions, inviting readers to laugh—and then to reconsider what they take for granted. The result is a classic of speculative satire that rewards both first-time readers and returning fans with its sharp intelligence, playful tone, and provocative questions.
Whether approached as an adventure into a strange land, a philosophical puzzle-box, or a critique of social convention, Erewhon endures as a singular work of literary imagination—one that challenges certainty, celebrates skepticism, and invites thoughtful readers to see their own world with newly awakened eyes.
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About the Author
Samuel Butler (1835-1902) is best known for his utopian satire Erewhon, his posthumous novel The Way of All Flesh, and his translations of Homer. His family background made a career in the Church inevitable, but, while serving a low-income parish in London, he began to question his faith. He lived in New Zealand for five years, and later in life spent time in Italy.
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