Erewhon Revisited · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Erewhon Revisited by Samuel Butler.
Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.
Chapter 1
Epigraph
The epigraph quotes Homer's Iliad, condemning those who say one thing while hiding another in their hearts, foreshadowing themes of hypocrisy and deception.
Chapter 2
Author's Preface
In the preface, Samuel Butler explains the genesis of the sequel to Erewhon, written thirty years after the original. He reflects on the natural development of new religions following a miraculous event—Higgs's balloon ascent—and draws analogies to historical patterns while distinguishing Higgs from other religious founders. Butler also notes his own religious affiliation with the advanced Broad Church and acknowledges his editor.
Chapter 3
Erewhon Revisited Twenty Years Later Both by the Original Discoverer of the Country and by His Son
The narrator introduces the book as a continuation of the original Erewhon story, now set twenty years after Higgs's first escape. Higgs returns to Erewhon with his son, and the narrative will cover their experiences and discoveries in the changed society.
Chapter 4
I: Ups and Downs of Fortune—My Father Starts for Erewhon
The narrator provides background on his father's life after publishing 'Erewhon' in 1872, including his fall from public favor, the death of his wife, and his growing obsession with returning to Erewhon. Despite concerns from friends and family, the father sets out on October 1, 1890, leaving his affairs in order. The narrator later reads his father's book and realizes the dangers of recognition in Erewhon. The chapter ends with a puzzling telegram from the father requesting money and saying 'Coming home.'
Chapter 5
To the Foot of the Pass Into Erewhon
The narrator describes his father's journey to the colony, where he buys a horse and travels upcountry to the foot of the pass into Erewhon. He camps, prepares his disguise, and reflects on the passage of time as he readies himself for the ascent.
Free preview
28 more chapter companions sit beside the text in BetterReads — open a free preview to unlock the rest.
28 more companions → free preview- Chapter 6III: My Father While Camping Is Accosted by Professors Hanky and Panky
- Chapter 7My Father Overhears More of Hanky and Panky’s Conversation
- Chapter 8V: My Father Meets a Son, of Whose Existence He Was Ignorant; and Strikes a Bargain with Him
- Chapter 9VI: Further Conversation Between Father and Son—The Professors’ Hoard
- Chapter 10Signs of the New Order of Things Catch My Father’s Eye on Every Side
- Chapter 11VIII: Yram, Now Mayoress, Gives a Dinner-Party, in the Course of Which She Is Disquieted by What She Learns from Professor Hanky: She Sends for Her Son George and Questions Him
- Chapter 12Interview Between Yram and Her Son
- Chapter 13X: My Father, Fearing Recognition at Sunch’ston, Betakes Himself to the Neighbouring Town of Fairmead
- Chapter 14President Gurgoyle’s Pamphlet “On the Physics of Vicarious Existence”
- Chapter 15XII: George Fails to Find My Father, Whereon Yram Cautions the Professors
- Chapter 16A Visit to the Provincial Deformatory at Fairmead
- Chapter 17XIV: My Father Makes the Acquaintance of Mr. Balmy, and Walks with Him Next Day to Sunch’ston
- Chapter 18XV: The Temple Is Dedicated to My Father, and Certain Extracts Are Read from His Supposed Sayings
- Chapter 19Professor Hanky Preaches a Sermon, in the Course of Which My Father Declares Himself to Be the Sunchild
- Chapter 20George Takes His Father to Prison, and There Obtains Some Useful Information
- Chapter 21Yram Invites Dr. Downie and Mrs. Humdrum to Luncheon—A Passage at Arms Between Her and Hanky Is Amicably Arranged
- Chapter 22A Council Is Held at the Mayor’s, in the Course of Which George Turns the Tables on the Professors
- Chapter 23Mrs. Humdrum and Dr. Downie Propose a Compromise, Which, After an Amendment by George, Is Carried Nem. Con.
- Chapter 24Yram, on Getting Rid of Her Guests, Goes to the Prison to See My Father
- Chapter 25XXII: Mainly Occupied with a Veracious Extract from a Sunch’stonian Journal
- Chapter 26My Father Is Escorted to the Mayor’s House, and Is Introduced to a Future Daughter-in-Law
- Chapter 27After Dinner, Dr. Downie and the Professors Would Be Glad to Know What Is to Be Done About Sunchildism
- Chapter 28George Escorts My Father to the Statues; The Two Then Part
- Chapter 29XXVI: My Father Reaches Home, and Dies Not Long Afterwards
- Chapter 30I Meet My Brother George at the Statues, on the Top of the Pass Into Erewhon
- Chapter 31George and I Spend a Few Hours Together at the Statues, and Then Part—I Reach Home—Postscript
- Chapter 32Endnotes
- Chapter 33List of Illustrations