On Reading Ruskin

On Reading Ruskin by Marcel Proust, translated and edited by Jean Autret, William Burford, and Phillip J Wolfe, 165 pages

Early in his writing career Marcel Proust translated two of John Ruskin's works - The Bible of Amiens and Sesame and Lilies - into French, also supplying introductions and notes.  The translation itself was handicapped by Proust's rudimentary English, but the supplementary material reveals the depth of his attachment to, and engagement with, Ruskin's thought.  On Reading Ruskin collects this commentary in a single volume.

Six years separate the two works, and the years were not wasted by the French writer - the introduction to The Bible of Amiens was written by an ardent, though not uncritical, disciple of the master, while the introduction to Sesame and Lilies was written by the author of In Search of Lost Time.  What is truly remarkable is Proust's attitude towards Ruskin - at no time does he appear descend into agon.  Proust's primary criticism of Ruskin is that he is occasionally insincere - willing to endorse ideas because they are beautiful whether or not he actually believes them.  Against this is balanced an extensive meditation in which Proust extols reading as the highest (because most disinterested) kind of friendship.