In reading these essays we are apt to be deceived, by their virulent and forcible tone, into believing that the whole matter is a mere cover for hidden fire, -a mere blind of aesthetic discussion concealing a deep and implacable personal feud which demands and will have vengeance. In spite of all that has been said to the contrary, many people still hold this view of the two little works before us; and, as the actual facts are not accessible to everyone, and rumours are more easily believed than verified, the error of supposing that these pamphlets were dictated by personal animosity, and even by Nietzsche's envy of Wagner in his glory, seems to be a pretty common one. In Wagner's music, in his doctrine, in his whole concept of art, Nietzsche saw the confirmation, the promotion-aye, even the encouragement, of that decadence and degeneration which is now rampant in Europe; and it is for this reason, although to the end of his life he still loved Wagner, the man and the friend, that we find him, on the very eve of his spiritual death, exhorting us to abjure Wagner the musician and the artist. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist. He wrote critical texts on religion, morality, contemporary culture, philosophy and science, displaying a fondness for metaphor, irony and aphorism

First released in 1901, about one year after Nietzsche's death, "The Will to Power" is a collection of Nietzsche's unedited and unpublished writings. Though the title and all of the ideas are of the radical philosopher's own invention, the order and selection of Nietzsche's notebooks are due to the organization of his sister. As a result of his poor health, Nietzsche used his remaining energy to write a different work, leaving "The Will to Power" in the earliest stages of writing. The topics he explores vary widely and include nihilism, religion, morality, the theory of knowledge, and art. Some ideas are reflected in the works Nietzsche managed to complete in his lifetime, while others show his progression toward those ideas in his earlier life. Overall, "The Will to Power" is an opportunity to read the intellectual journaling of one of the nineteenth century's most brilliant thinkers.

Though completely unappreciated during his lifetime, Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) is one of the most recognizable names in the art world today. Though it would make sense that Van Gogh's life would be greatly undocumented, this is not the case. "The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh" is a collection of the correspondences between Van Gogh and his brother, Theo, that gives an incredibly enthralling look into the life of this genius. Tormented by loss of religious faith, poverty, and lack of success as a painter, Van Gogh also had bouts of elation, and every emotion on the human spectrum is illustrated in these letters. Some have described these letters as one of the most remarkable collections in the history of art or even literature: a truly invaluable compilation.

For the title of his autobiography, Nietzsche chose Pilate's words upon discharging Christ to the mob: "Ecce Homo, "or "Behold the man." The philosopher's dramatically egotistical review of his life and works (featuring chapters called Why I Am So Wise and Why I Write Such Excellent Books) transcends mere arrogance with its use of masterful language to convey relevant ideas: the importance of questioning traditional morality, establishing autonomy, and making a commitment to creativity.