Samuel Butler (1835-1902) was an English author, satirist, and translator best known for his novel Erewhon and his unconventional views on society, religion, and literature. Educated at Cambridge, Butler initially pursued a path toward the clergy but turned away from it, eventually settling in New Zealand for a time before returning to England to focus on writing. In addition to his fiction, Butler developed a deep interest in classical literature. His prose translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey, published in the late 19th century, were notable for making these ancient epics more accessible to general readers. Rather than preserving the original poetic structure, Butler chose a clear, straightforward prose style, allowing the stories to read more like narrative fiction. Though sometimes controversial for his theories-particularly his belief that The Odyssey may have been written by a woman-Butler's work has endured for its readability and fresh perspective, helping introduce Homer's epics to a broader audience.