Essays and Letters Selected From the Writings of John Ruskin

Book excerpt: Excerpt from Essays and Letters Selected From the Writings of John Ruskin: With Introductory Interpretations and Annotations If it be true that "Literature is a criticism of life," then the writings of John Ruskin deserve to rank high. The papers included in this volume are characteristic expressions of Mr. Ruskin's views on social questions and ethics as applied to all life. His searching examination of conduct and the motives that control the average man in private and public life tend to awaken dissatisfaction with low ideals, and to elevate the standards of personal and social virtue. The main introduction is intended to give briefly (1) Mr. Ruskin's theory of life and art; (2) a sketch of his own life showing what influences contributed to the formation of his character; and (3) the characteristics of his literary style. The special introductions are intended as a concise summary of the individual essays and letters. The text used is that of Mr. Ruskin's authorized English edition. It is hoped that this introduction to one of the most stimulating writers of the present century will prove so helpful and inspiring as to lead to a more intimate acquaintance. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.