The Way of All Flesh, Samuel Butler

The Way of All Flesh

Samuel Butler

Level
C1
Genre
Historical novels
Words
163,423
Chapters
86
Reading time
about 18 hours
Translation
instant AI translation as you read

Read this book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary

The novel follows several generations of the Pontifex family, focusing on Ernest, a sensitive boy raised by a clergyman father and a pious mother. His upbringing, schooling and early mistakes shape a long struggle to find his own way. Butler mixes family chronicle with sharp criticism of Victorian religion and education. The realistic prose and dialogue suit learners who want a full length novel.

Learn English with The Way of All Flesh

  • Suits learners around level C1: you read the original, not a simplified retelling.
  • Who it suits: a long, demanding classic (C1), for confident readers, or for B1 to B2 readers with the translation on.
  • 10,410 distinct words, each one a tap away from your personal vocabulary list.
  • Translation into Russian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish or Arabic, aligned to every sentence, shown under the text or beside it.
  • Read-aloud audio for every chapter, with the current sentence highlighted as it is read.
  • Read in English, glance at the translation under any sentence you are unsure of, and listen to natural read-aloud voices to train your ear.

How it works

  1. Open the book: no installation, it reads in the browser on any device.
  2. Read a sentence in English. Its translation sits right under it, so you never lose the thread.
  3. Tap a word for its meaning and save it; listen to the chapter read aloud.

More about the method →Read your own EPUB with translation →

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Questions about this book

Can I read The Way of All Flesh in English for free?

Yes. The first chapters of The Way of All Flesh open without an account, with the translation, audio and dictionary included. A free account unlocks the rest of the book.

How much English do I need?

The text is estimated at level C1. Because every sentence has its translation underneath, lower levels can follow along too.

Is there audio?

Yes. Each chapter can be read aloud by a natural-sounding voice while the current sentence is highlighted.

Is The Way of All Flesh available in Russian?

Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Way of All Flesh is shown with its Russian translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Russian whenever you need to.

Is The Way of All Flesh available in Spanish?

Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Way of All Flesh is shown with its Spanish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Spanish whenever you need to.

Is The Way of All Flesh available in Brazilian Portuguese?

Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Way of All Flesh is shown with its Brazilian Portuguese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Brazilian Portuguese whenever you need to.

Is The Way of All Flesh available in Japanese?

Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Way of All Flesh is shown with its Japanese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Japanese whenever you need to.

Is The Way of All Flesh available in Chinese?

Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Way of All Flesh is shown with its Chinese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Chinese whenever you need to.

Is The Way of All Flesh available in Turkish?

Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Way of All Flesh is shown with its Turkish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Turkish whenever you need to.

Is The Way of All Flesh available in Arabic?

Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Way of All Flesh is shown with its Arabic translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Arabic whenever you need to.

Can I download The Way of All Flesh as a PDF or EPUB?

Not from Booklern: the book is read online, in the browser, with nothing to download or install. Your place in the book is saved to your account.