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Cambridge Pieces

By Samuel Butler
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Essays, Letters & SpeechesHumourTeaching & Education

About This Book

A compact miscellany of early essays and comic sketches that blend literary criticism, parody, and satirical observation. Selections range from practical remarks on composition and playful translations of classical material to mock prospectuses, lampoons of examinations and clerical life, and persona pieces that ridicule social ambition and pretension. The tone alternates between earnest commentary and ironic humour, using pastiche and witty exaggeration to expose manners, institutional foibles, and stylistic affectations while showcasing a concise, pointed prose style.

About the Author

Butler, Samuel portrait

Samuel Butler

Samuel Butler was an English novelist, essayist, and social critic, known for his satirical and thought-provoking works. His most famous novel, "Erewhon," published in 1872, presents a unique utopian society that challenges contemporary Victorian values and explores themes of evolution and morality. Butler's writings often reflect his interest in science and philosophy, as seen in his essays and critiques of Darwinism in "Evolution, Old & New." He also authored travel narratives, such as "Alps and Sanctuaries of Piedmont and the Canton Ticino," showcasing his keen observations of culture and landscape. Butler's literary contributions continue to resonate, marking him as a significant figure in 19th-century literature.

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