Selections from Previous Works

audiobook

Selections from Previous Works

by Samuel Butler

EN·~9 hours

Chapters

Description

A thoughtful collection of Victorian essays and revised excerpts, this volume opens with a spirited defense of scholarly accuracy. Its author challenges the missteps of a prominent naturalist, arguing that scientific authority should be accountable to the same standards of precision demanded of any learned profession. Interwoven are his own reflections on memory as a driving force behind heredity, hinting at bold theories that link animal instincts, hybrid sterility and longevity.

The second part shifts to a witty, speculative portrait of a society where illness is judged like a crime, echoing the satirical tone of classic social critiques. Through courtroom‑like trials of bodily failure, the piece lampoons the ways cultures assign moral weight to natural conditions. Listeners are invited to follow the author’s blend of rigorous argument and imaginative commentary, gaining insight into the debates and humor that shaped late‑19th‑century scientific thought.

Details

Full title

Selections from Previous Works With Remarks on Romanes' Mental Evolution in Animals, and a Psalm of Montreal

Language

en

Duration

~9 hours (539K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2006-10-24

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Samuel Butler

Samuel Butler

1835–1902

Best known for the satirical novel Erewhon and the posthumously published The Way of All Flesh, this sharp-minded Victorian writer loved challenging accepted ideas. His work ranges from fiction and essays to lively arguments about religion, evolution, and society.

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