Samuel Butler - The Odyssey of Homer: "Self-preservation is the first law of nature"

The narrative chronicles Samuel Butler's tumultuous upbringing, marked by a strained relationship with his father and a strict education, leading him to question his faith while preparing for the Anglican clergy. His emigration to New Zealand in 1859 transformed his life as a sheep farmer, providing inspiration for his later works, including the notable Utopian novel "Erewhon." After returning to England, Butler continued to write, tackling themes of Victorian morality, culminating in his posthumous semi-autobiographical work, "The Way of All Flesh." He passed away in 1902, leaving a complex literary legacy.