The Ring of Truth

The Ring of Truth

The Wisdom of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung

Summary

'The ideal interpreter of the Ring ... a fascinating and valuable study ... absorbing and convincing' Sunday Times

The Ring of the Nibelung
is one of the greatest works of art created in modern times. Roger Scruton's brilliant and passionate exploration of the drama, music, symbolism and philosophy of Wagner's masterpiece - with its themes of love, death, sacrifice and freedom - shows how, ultimately, it expresses the truth about the human condition.

'Highly original and penetrating ... tremendous' Tim Blanning, Literary Review

'A rich, historical account ... After reading this book, only the most unadventurous reader would turn down the chance to see Wagner's masterpiece' Economist

'A brilliant gallop through the master's religious, musical and philosophical contexts' Sue Prideaux, Spectator

'Scruton is one of the finest philosopher-musicians since Schopenhauer' Jonathan Gaisman, Standpoint

Reviews

  • a masterpiece, all told the best book on Wagner I have ever read
    Michael Tanner, Literary Review

About the author

Roger Scruton

Sir Roger Scruton, who died just after completing this book, was a writer and philosopher who held positions at the universities of London, Oxford, Boston, St Andrews and Buckingham and who wrote widely on art, architecture, music and aesthetics. His books include his now classic Short History of Modern Philosophy (1981), The Aesthetics of Music (1997), Death-Devoted Heart: Sex and the Sacred in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde (2004) and The Ring of Truth: The Wisdom of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung (2016). He was a Fellow of the British Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
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