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9781843680963

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'One of the two or three most important books on Ruskin to appear in the last thirty years.' James Dearden, former Master of the Guild of St George 'The story of the ill-fated marriage of John Ruskin and Effie Gray has intrigued and appalled generations of those with an interest in the midnineteenth century. Robert Brownell s account of events is by far the most thorough yet. In almost forensic detail, and in a remarkably gripping way, he re-examines every pertinent document from diaries and personal letters (many printed here in full for the first time) to contemporary legal papers and offers a new and carefully weighted interpretation of the background, developing drama and ultimate conclusion of one of the century s most interesting scandals. His book can surely lay claim to being the last word on this aptly titled Marriage of Inconvenience.' Stephen Wildman, Director, Ruskin Library, University of Lancaster 'Brownell has the story-teller's gift as well as a love for his evidence: this may be a scholarly tour-de-force but for sheer readability he has produced a cross between a John Grisham novel and an episode of New Tricks... And how refreshing at last to have some sanity and measure of well-evidenced truth in an episode that has bedevilled Ruskin's reputation for over 150 years.' Howard Hull Director, the Ruskin Foundation

"""Robert Brownell weighed in with an enjoyably obsessive re-examination of the marriage of Effie and John Ruskin and the pubic hair question."" - Observer Books of the Year 2013 ""A page turner, even for those familiar with the subject...The surprising truth that emerges is no less human, and no less revealing about the Victorians than the myths; on the contrary it gives a far more compelling insight into what relationships, family and money really mean."" - Country Life ""It is not Brownell's purpose to deal with the well-known facts but to disinter a scandal and shake the dust off it. With the film Effie Gray due out this year – in which Ruskin is again cast as the bewhiskered prude of legend and his wife as a childlike victim of patriarchal repression – this can only be welcomed."" - The Oldie ""Ruskin’s marriage was doomed from the start, but not for the reason most people think, argues this well-researched book."" - The Times ""Robert Brownell wants to give the biographical pendulum a hefty shove in the opposite direction. In 600 closely wrought pages he argues that it was Ruskin, not Gray, who was tricked into a fraudulent marriage. What’s more it was Ruskin and not Gray who manoeuvred the whole miserable business to its sensational close."" - Guardian"

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Robert Brownell is a freelance writer and lecturer specialising in Victorian art and aesthetics, particularly Ruskin and Morris.

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