Samuel Butler Livres

Pâris a enlevé la belle Hélène. Son mari Ménélas et tous les Grecs rassemblés crient vengeance et font le siège de Troie depuis neuf ans. Le divin Homère entonne alors le premier chant de l'Iliade. Il y en aura vingt-quatre, tous plus beaux les uns que les autres, tous centrés sur la colère d'Achille. Le roi des rois, Agamemnon, lui a enlevé sa compagne, l'esclave Briséis. En pleine bataille, Achille se retire sous sa tente, affaiblissant les rangs des Achéens. Il n'en sortira qu'à la mort de son ami Patrocle, pour combattre Hector. On ne sait si Homère est bien l'auteur de tous ces chants, mais cette épopée a traversé les siècles par sa démesure et sa beauté. Au combat des hommes se superpose celui des dieux et des déesses. Tous sont nobles, héroïques et généreux mais Homère, réaliste, montre aussi leurs faiblesses. Cette histoire faite de larmes et de sang est le symbole de la destinée humaine ballottée par le hasard. Achille le sait bien, lui dont les exploits dépendent de la fantaisie des dieux.

Exploring the concept of memory, this work delves into the unconscious aspects that shape human experience. Samuel Butler presents a thought-provoking examination of how memories influence behavior and perception, challenging the traditional understanding of consciousness. The text combines philosophical insights with psychological observations, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between memory and identity. Butler's exploration invites readers to reflect on the deeper, often hidden layers of their own memories and the impact on their lives.

Erewhon, set in a thinly disguised New Zealand, ended with the escape of its protagonist from the native Erewhonians by balloon. In the sequel, narrated by his son John. Higgs returns to Erewhon and meets his former lover Yram, who is now the mother of his son George. He discovers that he is now worshipped as "the Sunchild." He finds himself in danger from the villainous Professors Hanky and Panky, who are determined to protect Sunchildism from him. With George's help Higgs escapes from their clutches and returns to England.

The TREDITION CLASSICS series revives classical literature that has been largely forgotten, preserving cultural heritage from over two thousand years. By reprinting these timeless works, the series aims to make them accessible to modern readers and prevent them from fading into obscurity. Each hardcover edition supports the mission to celebrate and promote international literary classics, ensuring their availability in printed format for future generations.

Après la guerre de Troie, Ulysse ne retournera pas de sitôt à Ithaque. Héros malmené par les dieux, il erre pendant dix ans de naufrages en catastrophes, jouet de forces qui le dépassent. Il devient ainsi le premier aventurier à explorer les confins du monde pour en rapporter un fabuleux récit. Considérée comme l'un des plus beaux poèmes de l'humanité, l'Odyssée fait partie de ces ouvrages qui ont laissé une empreinte profonde dans la culture occidentale. si bien qu'on peut affirmer, avec Pierre Bergounioux, que "le monde n'est plus le même après qu'on a lu l'Odyssée".

A traveler finds himself imprisoned in a peculiar land where poverty is considered a crime. As he adapts to his new surroundings, he learns the local language and gains the trust of the residents. This journey introduces him to bizarre institutions, such as the Hospital for Incurable Bores, the College of Unreason, and the Museum of Old Machines, each reflecting the unique and whimsical culture of this strange society.

In Erewhon, machines are banned, lest they evolve and take over. This 1872 proto-steampunk novel offers prescient, provocative satires of family, church, and mechanical progress. Includes the sequel, Erewhon Revisited.

Erewhon (an anagram for "nowhere") is a faraway land where sickness is a punishable crime, criminals receive compassionate medical treatment, and machines are banned (for fear they'll evolve and become the masters of man). Butler's entertaining and thought-provoking Utopian novel takes aim at such hallowed institutions as family, church, and mechanical progress; its remarkable prescience in anticipating future sociological trends adds a special relevance for today's readers.

The Secret History of the Calves-Head Club Compleat is a satirical masterpiece that exposes the hypocrisy of the English republican movement in the late 17th century. Through a series of mock-anthems, Ward, Denham, Dunton, and Butler reveal the true nature of the Calves-Head Club and its members. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in political satire and the history of the English republican movement.