ich habe es nicht gelesen, scheint aber bekannt zu sein ....

Hier die Angabe von dritter Stelle:
Butler spent a good many years writings this extraordinary book, and finished it a good many years ago, but in 1902, on his deathbed, gave for the first time permission to have it printed, characteristically reversing the conventional deathbed repentance confession. He, who had abandoned all faith except his own infallibility, ardently believed in his posthumous fame, which has become a reality. This novel is a "life" novel, it is a biography. Three generations of the hero's family are portrayed with much detail; the plot of the story is simply chronological; the only agreeable woman in the book was a personal friend of the author.