Nietzsche Wagner and the Philosophy of Pessimism

<p>Nietzsche's relationship with Wagner has long been a source of controversy and has given rise to a number of important studies including this major breakthrough in Nietzsche scholarship first published in 1982. In this work Hollinrake contends that the nature and extent of the anti-Wagnerian pastiche and polemic in <em>Thus Spake Zarathustra</em> is arguably the most important factor in the association between the two. Thus Wagner as the purveyor of a particular brand of Schopenhauerian pessimism is here revealed as one of the principle sources - and targets - of <em>Zarathustra</em>. Whilst addressed primarily to students of German Literature this book will also be of interest to musicians philosophers and students of the history of culture and ideas.</p>