The Fair Haven: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Fair Haven: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Fair Haven is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Butler, Samuel (1835–1902).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Fair Haven" by Samuel Butler is a theological treatise written in the late 19th century that defends the miraculous elements of Christianity against rationalist critiques. The book is formatted as a posthumous work attributed to a fictional author, John Pickard Owen, and includes a memoir of him, which serves as a stylistic and argumentative element of the text. Through this structure, Butler explores the intricacies of faith, doubt, and the interpretation of Christian doctrine, likely reflecting his own spiritual journey and skepticism. At the start of "The Fair Haven," readers are introduced to the memoir of John Pickard Owen, which recounts his upbringing and family dynamics, particularly focusing on the contrasting religious influences of his mother and father. Owen’s mother, devout yet literal-minded, instills a strict form of Christianity that shapes his early beliefs, leading to a profound conflict as he matures and begins to question the authenticity and moral implications of those teachings. As he experiences doubts, he embarks on a personal struggle with religious truths, ultimately exploring themes of faith and skepticism that resonate throughout the narrative. The opening segments set the stage for deeper theological discussions, establishing a rich historical context for Butler's reflections on belief.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Fair Haven
- Author credits: Butler, Samuel (1835–1902)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Alford, Henry, 1810-1871
- Christianity -- Controversial literature
- Jesus Christ -- Biography -- History and criticism
- Jesus Christ -- Miracles
- Jesus Christ -- Person and offices
- Strauss, David Friedrich, 1808-1874
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Novels
- Category: Religion/Spirituality
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


