The Works of John Ruskin [Paperback]

The first volume of the magisterial Library Edition (19031912) of the works of John Ruskin.The first volume of the magisterial Library Edition (19031912) of the works of John Ruskin contains early essays on architecture and painting, and two pieces of fiction: Leoni and The King of the Golden River.The first volume of the magisterial Library Edition (19031912) of the works of John Ruskin contains early essays on architecture and painting, and two pieces of fiction: Leoni and The King of the Golden River.The influence of John Ruskin (18191900), both on his own time and on artistic and social developments in the twentieth century, cannot be over-stated. He changed Victorian perceptions of art, and was the main influence behind 'Gothic revival' architecture. As a social critic, he argued for the improvement of the condition of the poor, and against the increasing mechanisation of work in factories, which he believed was dull and soul-destroying. The thirty-nine volumes of the Library Edition of his works, published between 1903 and 1912, are themselves a remarkable achievement, in which his books and essays - almost all highly illustrated - are given a biographical and critical context in extended introductory essays and in the 'Minor Ruskiniana' - extracts from letters, articles and reminiscences both by and about Ruskin. Volume 1 contains early essays, and two pieces of fiction: Leoni and The King of the Golden River.General preface; Introduction; 1. 'The poetry of architecture'; 2. Contributions to Loudon's 'Magazine of Natural History'; 3. Further contributions to Loudon's 'Architectural Magazine'; 4. Essay on the relative dignity of the studies of painting and music; 5. Leoni: a legend of Italy; 6. The king of the golden river; 7. Three letters and an essay; 8. Letters to a college friend; Appendix.