{"title":"Books by John Ruskin","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780199539246","title":"Selected Writings","description":"'To be taught to write or to speak - but what is the use of speaking, if you have nothing to say? To be taught to think - nay, what is the use of being able to think, if you have nothing to think of? But to be taught to see is to gain word and thought at once, and both true.'Ruskin was the most powerful and influential critic of the nineteenth century. He wrote about nature, art, architecture, politics, history, myth, and much besides; all his work is characterized by a clarity of vision as unsettling and intense now as it was for his first readers. This new selection draws on the whole range of his astonishingly varied output, from the passionate celebration of J. M. W. Turner's painting in the first volume of Modern Painters (1843) to Praeterita (1885-9), the elegiac autobiography of his later years. The introduction outlines Ruskin's life and thought, and shows why he remains such a rewarding writer today. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201521516722,"sku":"9780199539246","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780199539246_404aa0a0-86c9-4ea8-b44b-bc075051bd70.jpg?v=1786012850"},{"product_id":"9780192802415","title":"Praeterita","description":"'For as I look deeper into the mirror, I find myself a more curious person than I had thought.'John Ruskin (1819-1900) was a towering figure of the nineteenth century: an art critic who spoke up for J. M. W. Turner and for the art of the Italian Middle Ages; a social critic whose aspiration for, and disappointment in, the future of Great Britain was expressed in some of the most vibrant prose in the language. Ruskin's incomplete autobiography was written between periods of serious mental illness at the end of his career, and is an eloquent analysis of the guiding powers of his life, both public and private. An elegy for lost places and people, Praeterita recounts Ruskin's intense childhood, his time as an undergraduate at Oxford, and, most of all, his journeys across France, the Alps, and northern Italy. Attentive to the human or divine meaning of everything around him, Praeterita is an astonishing account of revelation. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201546551474,"sku":"9780192802415","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780192802415_36dddb15-dfea-4f80-bb11-5cf087afce93.jpg?v=1786011675"},{"product_id":"9780140432114","title":"Unto This Last and Other Writings","description":"The most influential art theorist and critic of his age, an outstanding man of letters, a sensitive painter and draughtsman, Ruskin's social criticism shocked and angered the establishment and many of his admirers.\u003cp\u003eFirst and foremost an outcry against injustice and inhumanity, \u003cb\u003eUnto this Last\u003c\/b\u003e is also a closely argued assault on the science of political economy, which dominated the Victorian period. Ruskin was a profoundly conservative man who looked back to the Middle Ages as a Utopia, yet his ideas had a considerable influence on the British socialist movement. And in making his powerful moral and aesthetic case against the dangers of unhindered industrialization he was strangely prophetic. This volume shows the astounding range and depth of Ruskin's work, and in an illuminating introduction the editor reveals the consistency of Ruskin's philosophy and his adamant belief that questions of economics, art and science could not be separated from questions of morality. In Ruskin's words, 'There is no Wealth but Life.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56224105955701,"sku":"9780140432114","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780140432114_53ea8034-4f3f-40e6-95c7-6385029d06d5.jpg?v=1786011456"},{"product_id":"9780141018959","title":"Great Ideas On Art and Life","description":"Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization, and helped make us who we are.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56224179913077,"sku":"9780141018959","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780141018959_237bb436-56d8-479d-9155-64f267d7f25f.jpg?v=1786011395"},{"product_id":"9780486227306","title":"The Elements of Drawing","description":"Timeless work by one of the greatest art critics of all time begins with bare fundamentals and offers brilliant philosophical advice from sketching to the laws of color and composition. \"The truth behind Ruskin's statements is always clear.\" — American Artist. 48 illustrations.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56289984446837,"sku":"9780486227306","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780486227306_b6407eb0-8b62-49e6-a6f8-a715f785e4c7.jpg?v=1787039905"},{"product_id":"9780486261454","title":"The Seven Lamps of Architecture","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"I believe architecture must be the beginning of arts, and that the others must follow her in their time and order; and I think the prosperity of our schools of painting and sculpture, in which no one will deny the life, though many the health, depends upon that of our architecture.\" — John Ruskin.\u003cbr\u003eIn August of 1848, John Ruskin and his new bride visited northern France, for the gifted young critic wished to write a work that would examine the essence of Gothic architecture. By the following April, the book was finished. Titled \u003ci\u003eThe Seven Lamps of Architecture,\u003c\/i\u003e it was far more than a treatise on the Gothic style; instead, it elaborated Ruskin's deepest convictions of the nature and role of architecture and its aesthetics. The book was published to immediate acclaim and has since become an acknowledged classic.\u003cbr\u003eThe \"seven lamps\" are Sacrifice, Truth, Power, Beauty, Life, Memory, and Obedience. In delineating the relationship of these terms to architecture, Ruskin distinguishes between architecture and mere building. Architecture is an exalting discipline that must dignify and ennoble public life. It must preserve the purity of the materials it uses; and it must serve as a source of power and renewal for the society that produces it. The author expounds these and many other ideas with exceptional passion and knowledge, expressed in a masterly prose style.\u003cbr\u003eToday, Ruskin's timeless observations are as relevant as they were in Victorian times, making \u003ci\u003eThe Seven Lamps of Architecture\u003c\/i\u003e required reading for architects, students, and other lovers of architecture, who will find in these pages a thoughtful and inspiring approach to one of man's noblest endeavors.\u003cbr\u003eThis authoritative edition includes excellent reproductions of the 14 original plates of Ruskin's superb drawings of architectural details from such structures as the Doge's Palace in Venice, Giotto's Campanile in Florence, and the Cathedral of Rouen.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56290627027317,"sku":"9780486261454","price":14.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780486261454_89d5225c-9b3d-4fae-ad8c-66c6a37f4d1f.jpg?v=1786014201"},{"product_id":"9781843682660","title":"The King of the Golden River or the Black Brothers","description":"\u003cp\u003eJohn Ruskin wrote this fable for a teenage family friend, Effie, and later he married her. The marriage was famously disastrous, but before it fell apart the Ruskins allowed \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe King of the Golden River\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e to be published. It became one of the most popular works for children of its time. Richard Doyle contributed over 25 full-page illustrations and vignettes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe King of the Golden River\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is the first literary fairy tale in English (as opposed to collected folk tales). Ruskin himself said it was ‘a fairly good imitation of Grimm and Dickens, mixed with some true Alpine feeling of my own’. Later he spoke of the capacity of the traditional tales ‘to fortify children against the glacial cold of selfish science’.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt remains a powerful fable about humanity’s dual capacity for destructiveness and redeeming love, with as strange fairy-tale creatures as one could hope to meet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn essay by Simon Cooke explains the book’s importance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307697975669,"sku":"9781843682660","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781843682660_97a8d8d6-3ed8-4761-b63b-4f368622102c.jpg?v=1786028254"},{"product_id":"9781843682516","title":"The Storm Cloud of the Nineteenth Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eDismissed by contemporaries as the ravings of a deluded enemy of modernity, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Storm Cloud of the Nineteenth Century\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is an eerily prescient denunciation of capitalism’s assault on the atmosphere – and the profound danger for the earth but also the spiritual well-being of humanity. It is one of Ruskin’s final writings, conducted with both rigorous scientific observation and a sense of Biblical prophecy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRuskin’s call to action is even more urgently needed today. His rallying cry, \u003cem\u003eThere is no Wealth but Life\u003c\/em\u003e, is implicit throughout the \u003cem\u003eStorm Cloud\u003c\/em\u003e. How his thought developed through a conflicted relationship with the professional science of his day, and what we can take from his writings, are examined by Peter Brimblecombe, Professor of Atmospheric Pollution at the University of Essex, in his Introduction. A foreword by the Master of the Guild of St George, Ruskin’s association for social and spiritual reform, sets out what Ruskinians today can do and are doing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308146864501,"sku":"9781843682516","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781843682516_08c23c35-a3b4-4ca3-9607-52b48cb47e08.jpg?v=1786028247"},{"product_id":"9781941701799","title":"Giotto and His Works in Padua","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe Arena Chapel in Padua was completed in 1303; Giotto, then considered the preeminent painter in Italy, was commissioned to paint it in 1306. The resulting fresco cycle, detailing the history, birth, life, and death of Christ, ranks among the greatest artworks ever created.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJohn Ruskin helped redefine art criticism in the nineteenth century through his attention to detail, his playful and engaging prose, and the conviction with which he discussed the subjects that mattered most to him. Ruskin’s ekphrastic writing became a way for readers to approach the experience of looking at great art without actually seeing it in person. Despite having written about Giotto on numerous occasions in \u003ci\u003eStones of Venice \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Modern Painters\u003c\/i\u003e, he never treated the Arena Chapel in its own right. Here Ruskin examines the panels and brings them life, describing their many hidden details, all the result of Giotto’s unrivaled genius. As Ruskin says, “Giotto was…one of the greatest men who ever lived.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eLong out of print, the Arundel Society first published \u003ci\u003eGiotto and His Works in Padua \u003c\/i\u003ebetween 1853 and 1860. It stands as Ruskin’s most compelling set of reflections on Giotto’s masterpiece—an artwork that, in Ruskin’s estimation, changed the very course of art history. Originally accompanied by a set of black and white woodcuts of the panels in the Chapel, this new edition presents each panel in vivid color photography, adding a useful visual aid to Ruskin’s lyrical descriptions. The result is a book that serves not only as an introduction for students of art history, but also as a discussion of what it means to be a great artist, by one of most influential writers ever to tackle visual art.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309470921077,"sku":"9781941701799","price":8.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781941701799_0009ed97-53d7-4e73-9775-5a66261df387.jpg?v=1786031003"},{"product_id":"9781487547196","title":"The Stones of Venice","description":"In the early 1850s, John Ruskin published The Stones of Venice, a history of Venetian architecture. He asserted the moral and aesthetic superiority of Venice's medieval buildings over structures from the Renaissance period. Ruskin's engaging and beautifully crafted prose inspired his Anglo-American readers to travel to Venice, to construct Gothic Revival buildings in their own cities, and to critically examine the moral virtues of modern society and how those principles are reflected in modern architecture.   Since 1904, only abridged editions of The Stones of Venice have been published – all of which sacrifice Ruskin's didacticism in favour of the aestheticism of a few select passages. As the first unabridged edition in over a century, this book restores the context for those selections. It retains Ruskin's tripartite history of Venice and includes material omitted from abridged versions, including Ruskin's supplementary folio. It features reproductions of many of Ruskin's original sketches, which in previous editions appeared only as engraved copies. This edition includes his list of Venice's most important buildings, with endnotes updating their contemporary status, as well as an appendix with selections from other Venetian-themed texts by Ruskin. Introducing new readers to an important literary figure, this book also features an introductory essay that situates The Stones of Venice within John Ruskin's life and writings.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56419851960693,"sku":"9781487547196","price":97.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781487547196_26d22caa-0bc7-4e8d-ba03-bbe56e47d0c7.jpg?v=1786022087"},{"product_id":"nature-of-gothic","title":"The Nature of Gothic","description":"\u003cp\u003e'One of the very few necessary and inevitable utterances of the century.' William Morris, in the Preface. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Nature of Gothic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e started life as a chapter in Ruskin's masterwork, \u003cem\u003eThe Stones of Venice\u003c\/em\u003e. Ruskin came to lament the 'Frankenstein monsters' of Victorian buildings with added Gothic which 'The Stones' inspired; but despite his misgivings the original moral purpose of his writing had not fallen on stony ground. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Nature of Gothic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, the last chapter of the second volume, had marked his progression from art critic to social critic; in it he found the true seam of his thought, and it was quickly recognised for the revolutionary writing it was. As Morris himself put it, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Nature of Gothic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e 'pointed out a new road on which the world should travel'; and in its indictment of meaningless modern labour and its celebration of medieval architecture it could be called the foundation stone of Morris's aesthetic and purpose in life. 40 years after he first read it, Morris chose Ruskin's text for one of the first books to be published at his Kelmscott Press, using his own Golden type. It is one of the summits of his career, and one of the most beautiful books ever published.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew books can so completely sum up an era. The Kelmscott \u003cem\u003eNature of Gothic\u003c\/em\u003e encapsulates the meeting of two remarkable minds and embodies their influence in word, image and design. But more than that, Ruskin's words are increasingly relevant for our times. In this facsimile edition, the first ever made of this rare book, the reader can fully appreciate their importance and their legacy, as understood by one of the most potent visual imaginations to have worked in Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this enlarged edition, essays by leading scholars, Robert Hewison (who was one of Ruskin's successors as Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford University), Tony Pinkney (Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University) and Robert Brownell (lecturer, stained glass maker and author of \u003cem\u003eMarriage of Inconvenience\u003c\/em\u003e) explain the importance of this book for Ruskin, for Morris and for us today.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57495317184885,"sku":"9781843681014","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781843681014.jpg?v=1786618001"},{"product_id":"sesame-and-lilies","title":"Sesame And Lilies","description":"Sesame and Lilies' is a profound collection of lectures written by the influential Victorian art critic and social thinker, John Ruskin. The book is divided into two sections: \"Of Kings' Treasuries\" and \"Of Queens' Gardens,\" each exploring distinct themes related to education, literature, and gender roles. Throughout the book, Ruskin's writing is marked by eloquence, philosophical depth, and a strong moral compass. He explores themes of social inequality, the power of literature, and the interplay between gender, education, and culture. Ruskin's prose is thought-provoking and lyrical, drawing upon a wide range of references from literature, art, and history to support his arguments. The story remains a significant work in the field of Victorian literature and social criticism. It offers readers a profound exploration of education, the role of women, and the transformative power of literature, making it a valuable read for those interested in the intellectual and cultural climate of the Victorian era.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57495583981941,"sku":"9789358593037","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9789358593037.jpg?v=1786618277"},{"product_id":"ruskin-on-art-and-artists","title":"Ruskin on Art and Artists","description":"With a profound passion for beauty, nature, and craftsmanship, 19th-century art critic and polymath John Ruskin was a visionary thinker and influential social commentator who revolutionized how society viewed art and its connection to life.   This affordably priced anthology captures his timeless wisdom, which continues to influence 21st-century artists. It serves as a reminder of the deeper purpose of art beyond aesthetics, prioritizing authenticity – the essence of nature and reality. Ruskin's opposition to industrialization's dehumanizing effects is relevant today, as artists critique digital technology's impact on creativity. From his belief in art's educational, moral, and emotional impact to the artist's role, Ruskin's ideas inspire today's artists to maintain a balance between tradition and innovation, ensuring art remains personal and reflective of the world it inhabits.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57520084222325,"sku":"9780486855332","price":6.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780486855332.jpg?v=1787581559"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-john-ruskin.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}