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Sesame and Lilies

by John Ruskin, Deborah Epstein Nord, Jane Epstein Hunter

3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 · rating details · 102 ratings · 15 reviews

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into pri...more

Paperback, 240 pages

Published August 11th 2002 by Yale University Press (first published 1871)

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Jan 22, 2013 Bettie marked it as off-tbr-and-into-wpb

Recommended to Bettie by: Cheryl

Shelves: 3m-bookshelf-challenge

gutenberg link: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1293

LECTURE I—SESAME. OF KING'S TREASURIES

"You shall each have a cake of sesame,—and ten pound."
Lucian: The Fisherman.

My first duty this evening is to ask your pardon for the ambiguity of title under which the subject of lecture has been announced: for indeed I am not going to talk of kings, known as regnant, nor of treasuries, understood to contain wealth; but of quite another order of royalty, and another material of riches, than those usually ac...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: essays

John Ruskin was the most celebrated art critic of Victorian England. Born in 1819, the same year as Queen Victoria, he was the only child of first cousins. Upon his death in 1900 at age eighty, Tolstoy said Ruskin was "a rare man who thought with his heart." An offer came for him to be buried in Westminster Abbey, but it was Ruskin's wish to be laid to rest in the family cemetery at Brantwood Coniston. A few hundred thousand people joined in a march through England's streets to honor the man who...more John Ruskin was the most celebrated art critic of Victorian England. Born in 1819, the same year as Queen Victoria, he was the only child of first cousins. Upon his death in 1900 at age eighty, Tolstoy said Ruskin was "a rare man who thought with his heart." An offer came for him to be buried in Westminster Abbey, but it was Ruskin's wish to be laid to rest in the family cemetery at Brantwood Coniston. A few hundred thousand people joined in a march through England's streets to honor the man who influenced art, achitecture, spoke against uncaring capitalism, was an early naturalist, and thought of ideas in the nineteenth century which he would never see, but would come to fruition in the twentieth.

Ruskin wrote two hundred fifty works including books, essays and poetry. He was taught at home by his parents and tutors and completed a B.A. at Oxford in 1842. His first continental trip was at age fourteen with his parents, but it was Samuel Roger's "Italy" that he received as a birthday present seven years later that began his lifelong passion for the country, especially Venice, and Turner's illustrations.

England's most famous art, architecture, and social critic was stunningly influential across disciplines including geology, education, modern painters, Pre-Raphaelite pictures, the principles of drawing, Tuscan sculpture, and elements of an English Utopia.

His concern for a caring society juxtaposed to the despair capitalism brought to workers, many underaged, extended his influence into the twentieth century. Ruskin advocated free education, art galleries available to all citizens, free libraries so reading would be available to everyone, a minimum wage, housing for the elderly and infirmed, social security, public ownership of transportation, rent controlled housing, and a European trading community.

SESAME AND LILIES are two lectures Ruskin delivered in eighteen sixty-four. They became his most popular books (160,000 copies were printed in his lifetime). These works on reading and education of women were translated by Proust and, along with "The Bible of Amiens" about a French cathedral, influenced Proust's intimately observed writing style.

It is in SESAME that Ruskin declares, "There are good books for the hour, and good ones for all time; bad ones for the hour and bad ones for all time." Separating reading from conversation, Ruskin says, "A book is essentially not a talking thing, but a writing thing, and written, not with a view of mere communication, but of permanence." Rather than rate a book on how good it is, Ruskin asks the reader to judge, "How strange that is! I never thought of that before, and yet I see it is true." And be sure not to read into the author your own thoughts, but rather read books by people who are wiser than you, so that you can gain wisdom.

Thinkers and authors have compared John Ruskin to a diverse group of authors including Thoreau, Nietzsche, and William James. Difficult to label because of his enormous curiosity played out in a desire to "find the soul of a rock, the heart of a petal." He famously said, "There Is No Wealth But Life" and with that in mind, he must have spent his fortune and died a pauper. Highest Recommendation!

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Oct 01, 2009 Ilene rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a collection of 3 lectures given by John Ruskin in the later half of the 19th century. I found them quite interesting. There were some old fashioned ideas, some I disagreed with and some that I felt our culture has forgotten and should revive again. Much of the material felt like being in a classroom, specifically a literature class. He has some good points about writers and readers and how readers should approach a writer's material. It made me think. He also had some great things to sa...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Lissa Notreallywolf rated it 1 of 5 stars

Be forewarned of the sexism of the book: Kate Millett's Sexual Politics and the commentary is helpful in identifying the toxicology of this little volume. I especially liked the essays included after the two lectures which seem to still be informing some segments of the population about the difference between educating boys and girls. There are many beautiful lines in the lectures, as well as some barborously long sentences. But what struck me most about the writing was the mastery of rhetoric t...more Be forewarned of the sexism of the book: Kate Millett's Sexual Politics and the commentary is helpful in identifying the toxicology of this little volume. I especially liked the essays included after the two lectures which seem to still be informing some segments of the population about the difference between educating boys and girls. There are many beautiful lines in the lectures, as well as some barborously long sentences. But what struck me most about the writing was the mastery of rhetoric that is not common among my contemporaries. Other reasons include his influence on people who interest me: Dame Yates,James Blaylock (The Paper Grail), and the villanous art teacher in Charles De Lint's fantasies. Ruskin was known to have had a socialist bent, and belonged or/and instigated the Pre-Raphelite Brotherhood in Great Britain. I appreciate the Arts and Crafts movement, of which Ruskin is a prime mover. I know it mostly through art history, and I am interested in how it migrated from England to the U.S. In England it was heavily informed by a nostalgia for the feudal era, as in Rosetti's paintings.
Seeing the Greene and Greene mansion for the Gamble family in Pasadena was an important event in informing my love of architecture at an early age. In California, the primary cultural influences on Arts and Crafts architecture were the Mission style, retrospective of California's Spanish heritage, and Japanese influences. These influences are aesthetic, not idealistic. So Ruskin has hovered at the edge of many of my preoccupations, architecture, arts and crafts, social reform, sexual politics and a growing interest in romanticism as a cultural influence.
As far as the lectures goes, I have found it to be addressed to the other main preoccupation in my life-reading. Sesame about the uses of education or reading and appears to be the male half of a paired set. Ruskin calls the Victorians to task for reading as a class informed activity rather than one for the development of character. Despite his gross prohibition to women to avoid the topic of theology entirely, I have found many of his points very interesting, his expression of concern about economic priorities on target. He rebukes the Brits for their overwhelming aspiration to rise socially and upbraids them for their spending priorities in a way that one could not appeal to the American populace, which found aspirations beyond commerce effete.
The second lecture, Lilies or the Queens Gardens addresses education for character development in women. In Ruskin's world it is apparent that all women will enjoy the graces of domestic life, that is they will become wives. This must have been very painful to his adherents when WWI and then WWII made that possibility fade for more thana generation of women. Perhaps this is in part why he apologizes so heavily for becoming dated in his views, although he seems to attribute it to the entrance of women into University.
Of course I find it particularly egregious that Ruskin advised women to avoid the study of theology-he seemed to think it would strain their facutlies and turn them into self righteous and dogmatic prigs.It's interesting to think of these sessays in the same hour as Virginia Woolf, whom I much prefer. I think of her rage in A Room of One's Own about the poor meals served to female students, the lack of privacy and respect for scholarly contemplation, the difficulty of learning Greek. This last complaint seems to address Ruskin specifically-if you can always be left in the dust of any discussion or argument because you excluded by a male only language the temptation to be doctrinally proggish would be quite high. I will revisit the commentary in the edition again before reviewing it, because I still haven't finished reading it as carefully as it deserves, especially the section on how the Victorians read Sesame and Lilies.
My final advice is that this book is a relic, not to be read for practical insight on reading, or the education of children or youth. It is rather like studying a historical relic, a medicine bottle of a popular cure from the turn of the previous century which contained numerous toxins and might be retained as a popular soda pop flavor...a refer of course to the cultural aspects that seeped out of his thoughts. Thanks for Title 9 education, but it will take another 200 years for social attitudes to catch up with the laws. (less)

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Oct 14, 2008 Poiema rated it 3 of 5 stars

John Ruskin (1819-1900) was a prolific English art critic and historian, poet, and writer. His theories were taken up by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and his acquaintances included Dante Rossetti, William Hunt, Lewis Carroll, and Thomas Carlyle. Many homeschool Moms would simply recognize him as the author of the children's fantasy, King of the Golden River.

The small book, Sesame and Lilies is only one of his 250 works and is a written transcript of 3 lectures that Mr. Ruskin delivered to the...more John Ruskin (1819-1900) was a prolific English art critic and historian, poet, and writer. His theories were taken up by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and his acquaintances included Dante Rossetti, William Hunt, Lewis Carroll, and Thomas Carlyle. Many homeschool Moms would simply recognize him as the author of the children's fantasy, King of the Golden River.

The small book, Sesame and Lilies is only one of his 250 works and is a written transcript of 3 lectures that Mr. Ruskin delivered to the Royal College of Science, Dublin 1868.

Book lovers will appreciate the first lecture, in which Ruskin urges his audience to read the best books. He makes a distinction between "books of the hour" and books for all time. In his own words:

"life is short....have you measured and mapped out this short life and its possibilities? Do you know, if you read this, that you cannot read that; that what you lose today you cannot gain tomorrow? Will you go and gossip with your housemaid or your stable-boy, when you may talk with queens and kings?"

There are lots of bloggers mapping out their reading lists this week! Take a look at Carol's list here, the winter reading challenge at Seasonal Soundings, and Semicolons huge array of tempting reads.

Ruskin speaks also of developing the habit of "looking intensely at words" and advocates learning the "true descent and ancient blood" of the words we handle. Keep a good dictionary handy and patiently track the evolution and meanings of words you are not absolutely clear on. Illustrating with an excerpt from Milton's Lycidas, which he classifies a "true book", Ruskin is at his best. He does a masterful job dissecting the reading.

At the close of the lecture, the well-to-do audience is challenged to use their influence to promote the buying of books and the building of libraries rather than investing in weapons of war. Ruskin's passion is unmistakable; he seems to be pleading for the soul of the nation.

The "Lilies" portion of the book deals with the education of young ladies. His approach is aimed at nailing the pride of those born into luxury and privilege. He urges practical domestic skills to be taught and used so that the poor are fed, clothed, and sheltered.

It is an interesting paradox that, while taking aim at the pride of the elite, Mr. Ruskin himself comes across as bombastic. I was fascinated by his genius and spice, but felt as though he was seeking to right the wrongs of society by bearing down hard with fire and brimstone.

His words are used elegantly and intelligently, yet I felt no warmth or lingering glow upon closing the book. I share the desire to feed, clothe, and shelter the poor. I share in his observation that young "lilies"should be taught domestic arts so that they may be of service to others. But my motivation is different. For me, service is internally motivated by love. Ruskin uses his great gift with words to motivate people to action externally; more as an act of duty. At times I sensed he was seeking even to shame people into action.

I am not sorry I read the book. Many wonderful quotes I have gleaned from its pages. The verbal fireworks were enjoyable. But I find myself unchanged inwardly by Ruskin's passion.
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Feb 03, 2009 Dan Crews rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a great fan of his style particularly in Modern Painters. Lilies reads like Proust had wrote it. This book deals with Victorian morality, gender and education and is contextualized by four essays by contemporary critics. I was very surprised and enjoyed it.

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Aug 31, 2011 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: essays

For me a second hand bookshop isn't a second hand bookshop unless it has at least one copy of ' Sesame and Lilies ' by Ruskin and ' The Cloister and the Hearth ' by Charles Reade. It often makes me wonder whether that is because there were so many unwanted copies bought as presents and then gathering useless dust until quietly slipped into the shop when the present buyer was nowhere around or is it that the books were so popular everyone had a copy and there was a glut that needed release. I for...more

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Sep 04, 2009 Clark Elder rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of the profoundest Victorian writers, along with George MacDonald.

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Sep 04, 2012 Lexie Cooper rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: college

JOHN RUSKIN IS A SEXIST, MISOGYNISTIC MOTHERFUCKER.

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Jan 08, 2013 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

So far my favourite of ruskin's. I now understand why Proust translated this and bothered to write a long-ass preface (that is now separately published as 'on reading'). Of course this is pretty anachronistic stuff, but the writing is good - much simpler yet poetic compared to his earlier writings - and the basic spirit likely to appeal to a large audience.

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Feb 04, 2008 Kerren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Although I remember enjoying some of what Ruskin had to say - mostly his thoughts on education - I can't remember any specifics. REad it, but only if you enjoy art and education. This book reads like vegetables eat.

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Jan 11, 2012 Lily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: victorian-england, english

5 stars for the "sesame" part and 2 stars for the "lilies" part. The latter betrays his shallow and idealized view of women.

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May 24, 2010 Inna Shpitzberg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: literary-theory-criticism-history, 2010-read

The "Stones of Venice" is definitely better, but I still love Ruskin...

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Jun 04, 2008 mike rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this wasn't great. What's the matter with me?

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Jan 11, 2012 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-school

Read for college Victorian Garbage course

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May 21, 2013 Mumzie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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Apr 20, 2013 S. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: english

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Mar 30, 2013 Matt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 26, 2013 D-re-A-mi-N-gl-Y rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Feb 20, 2013 Sridharan rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About John Ruskin

John Ruskin is best known for his work as an art critic and social critic, but is remembered as an author, poet and artist as well. Ruskin's essays on art and architecture were extremely influential in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

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Books by John Ruskin

Unto This Last and Other Writings (Penguin Classics)

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Quotes from John Ruskins Sesame an...

“All books are divisible into two classes: the books of the hours, and the books of all Time.” — 93 people liked it

“For as in nothing is a gentleman better to be discerned from a vulgar person, so in nothing is a gentle nation (such nations have been) better to be discerned from a mob, than in this, - that their feelings are constant and just, results of due contemplation, and of equal thought. You can talk a mob into anything; its feelings may be - usually are - on a whole, generous and right; but it has no foundation for them, no hold of them; you may tease or tickle it into any, at your pleasure; it thinks by infection, for the most part, catching an opinion like a cold, and there is nothing so little that it will not roar itself wild about, when the fit is on; nothing so great but it will forget in an hour, when the fit is past.” — 1 person liked it

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