Sesame and Lilies

In these two celebrated lectures, the great Victorian critic John Ruskin reflects on the value of reading and the treasures of books (‘Of Kings’ Treasuries’) and on the ideal roles and education of men and women (‘Of Queens’ Gardens’), in prose of extraordinary eloquence and moral passion. Ranging over literature, duty, and the good life, Ruskin urges his readers toward wisdom, seriousness, and social responsibility. Beautifully written and deeply earnest, Sesame and Lilies was among the most popular and influential works of its age. Rich in noble sentiment and memorable phrasing, it offers a stirring Victorian meditation on the power of books and the shaping of character.