Richard Jefferies: His Life and His Ideals

H. S. Salt

• Publisher: A. C. Fifield, London
• Published: 1905
• Length: 119
• Format: Hardback
• Reprints: 1906, 1913

Summary

Henry S. Salt’s Richard Jefferies: A Study presents a nuanced exploration of the literary contributions and philosophical insights of Richard Jefferies. This work, reprinted in 1905 as Richard Jefferies: His Life and His Ideals, emphasizes that it is not a mere biography but a comprehensive study that engages with Jefferies’ ideas, particularly his views on social and religious matters.

Salt addresses critiques of his portrayal of Jefferies as a thinker, defending his inclusion of Jefferies’ more advanced opinions alongside his celebrated naturalism. He insists that Jefferies’ writings reflect a mature social conscience, contradicting narrow interpretations that overlook the full spectrum of his thought. Salt’s engagement with the complexities of Jefferies’ beliefs, including his controversial deathbed conversion, invites readers to appreciate Jefferies as a multifaceted thinker.

This rich analysis draws from Salt’s earlier writings in Temple Bar and the Pall Mall Gazette, supported by insights from contemporaries like Dr. S. A. Jones and P. Anderson Graham. Illustrated with the only known photograph of Jefferies, taken in 1879, and images of “Jefferies-land,” the study serves as both an intellectual homage and a visual tribute.

For readers interested in understanding the enduring legacy of Richard Jefferies, Salt’s work is essential, highlighting the growing appreciation of Jefferies’ genius in both England and America. This examination reassures lovers of Jefferies that the richness of his contributions remains a vital part of literary discourse.