About this ebook
Canterbury Pieces is a mid-19th-century collection of essays and dialogues by Samuel Butler, written around the 1860s. The work centers on evolution, social critique, and literary reflection, capturing Butler’s intellectual engagement with the Darwinian debates of his time. In its witty dialogue on On the Origin of Species, Butler humorously examines natural selection and the evolution of species, while “Darwin Among the Machines” anticipates the rise of technology and its relationship to humanity. The collection also includes literary criticism on Shakespeare’s The Tempest and cultural commentary on contemporary society, such as English cricketers visiting New Zealand. Altogether, the book stands as a vivid expression of 19th-century thought, blending science, philosophy, and culture through Butler’s sharp insight.
About the author
Samuel Butler was a 19th-century English novelist and essayist, best known for his sharp critiques of the hypocrisy within Victorian religion and morality. He spent part of his youth managing a sheep farm in New Zealand, an experience that later shaped his literary imagination. His notable work Erewhon uses satire and paradox to question social institutions and human nature, while writings like The Way of All Flesh critically examined the Bible and Christian faith. Though controversial during his time, his works have since been recognized for their modern insights. Butler persistently explored the contradictions of human existence and civilization, leaving behind a distinctive literary voice.
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