Nietzsche and Wagner

This final volume of Tim Hilton's life of John Ruskin explores the life of one of the nineteenth century's most significant thinkers and writers. Ruskin, the most prolific English author, produced around 250 published titles, alongside countless lectures, diaries, and letters. This biography uniquely returns to original source material, some of which has been newly examined by Hilton. The narrative begins in 1859, with Ruskin, already renowned for works like Modern Painters and The Stones of Venice, living in south London after a troubled marriage. During this time, he develops a complex and tragic love for Rose La Touche, a ten-year-old pupil. This relationship, marked by deep emotional turmoil, ultimately ends in tragedy in 1875, leaving Ruskin profoundly affected. Following this heartbreak, Ruskin faced mental health struggles that culminated in a decade-long breakdown. However, Hilton reveals that these later years were not merely a decline; they were also a period of remarkable intellectual and imaginative output. It was during this time that Ruskin wrote Praeterita and most of Fors Clavigera, a series of letters aimed at British workers. As Slade Professor of Art at Oxford, Ruskin established drawing schools that evolved into the Ruskin School of Art, while his writings spanned topics from art history to social reform and botany.