Pater Walter Livres

An annotated edition of selected essays by the major Victorian writer and aesthete Walter Pater.

Exploring the profound impact of early childhood experiences, this book delves into how seemingly trivial influences shape our emotions and thoughts throughout life. It highlights the lasting effects of the environment on personal development, suggesting that the small details of our formative years play a crucial role in defining who we become. The narrative invites reflection on the subtle yet powerful forces that mold our perceptions and memories, emphasizing the significance of early interactions and surroundings.

Walter Horatio Pater (1839-1894) was an English essayist and art and literary critic. After graduating from Oxford he became acutely interested in literature, beginning to write articles and criticisms. The first of these to be printed was a brief essay upon Coleridge, contributed in 1866 to the Westminster Review. A few months later (January, 1867), his essay on Winckelmann, the first expression of his idealism, appeared in the same review. In the following year his study of Aesthetic Poetry appeared in the Fortnightly Review. By the time his philosophical novel Marius the Epicurean appeared, however, he had gathered quite a following. This, his chief contribution to literature, was published early in 1885. In 1887 he published Imaginary Portraits, a series of essays in philosophic fiction; in 1889, Appreciations, with an Essay on Style; in 1893, Plato and Platonism; and in 1894, The Child in the House. His Greek Studies and his Miscellaneous Studies were collected posthumously in 1895; his posthumous romance of Gaston de Latour in 1896; and his essays from The Guardian were privately printed in 1897.

Originally published in 1873 and later revised, this notable work by Pater explores themes of aestheticism and the nature of art. It delves into the intricacies of beauty and experience, reflecting Pater's philosophical insights. The book has remained influential, showcasing his distinctive style and thoughts on the relationship between art and life. It was reissued in the early 1900s as part of a collected works edition, solidifying its place in literary history.

Oscar Wilde called this collection of essays the "holy writ of beauty." Published to great acclaim in 1837, it examines the work of Renaissance artists such as Winckelmann and the then neglected Botticelli, and includes a celebrated discussion of the Mona Lisa in a study of Da Vinci. The book strongly influenced art students and aesthetes of the day and is still valuable for the insights it offers and the beauty of the writing.

Through his highly idiosyncratic readings of some of the finest paintings, sculptures, and poems of the French and Italian Renaissance, Walter Pater in Studies in the History of the Renaissance redefined the practice of criticism as an impressionistic, almost erotic exploration of the critic's aesthetic responses. Pater's infamous nullConclusion, null which forever linked him with the decadent movement, scandalized many with its insistence on making pleasure the sole motive of life, even as it charmed fellow aesthetes such as Oscar Wilde. This edition of Studies reproduces the text of the first edition of 1873. Matthew Beaumont's Introduction describes the cultural context that gave rise to the book, the reasons for its notoriety, Pater's philosophical outlook, and the arguments in his book. It explores Pater's work as an attempt to preserve the unique aesthetic of a work of art in the face of encroaching mass culture. The book also includes the later chapter on Giorgione as an Appendix, comprehensive notes that identify the many literary and artistic references, and a useful glossary of names. - Publisher

The narrative explores the concept of aging through Marius's perspective, highlighting a rare instance of a fulfilling and beautiful old age. It contrasts societal views on youth and loss, suggesting that there can be a sense of completeness and contentment in later years. Marius's observations challenge the common notion that aging is solely about what is lost, revealing the potential for a life rich in experience and satisfaction.

This antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of a historically significant work, preserving its cultural importance despite potential imperfections like marks and flawed pages. The reprint aims to protect and promote classic literature, ensuring accessibility through high-quality modern editions that remain true to the original text.

Marius the Epicurean is a classic novel by Walter Pater that explores the philosophical and spiritual journey of its eponymous hero. Set in ancient Rome, the novel follows Marius as he grapples with questions of art, beauty, and morality. Pater's prose is beautiful and evocative, and the book is a masterpiece of English literature. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of philosophy and literature.