Book excerpt: This excellent collection of John Ruskin's writings contains three of his most famous essays: The Political Economy of Art, Essays on Political Economy and Unto This Last. In the Political Economy of Art, Ruskin embarks on an explanation of art as an important force in relation to a country's culture, politics and prosperity. Citing examples from history where artistic expression had made a great difference to the evolution of a country and its people, Ruskin considers how a country can go about discovering and fostering its greatest artistic talents. The latter portions of the essay discuss how the art these talented people produce can be put to greatest use, in terms of service to the country and population at large. Unto this Last is a famous discussion on economics which John Ruskin first published in 1860. Vociferously critical of what he viewed as the exploitative, free market capitalist economics which had dominated England for more than a century, Ruskin argues for a living wage and highlights the dire conditions laborers of the era endured. This essay is notable for inspiring Mahatma Gandhi, who cited the work as an inspiration for his own, non-violent resistance to the prevailing order in colonial-era India. Essays on Political Economy sees John Ruskin set out his personal interpretation of nineteenth century economic theory. He acknowledges the importance of land and natural resources, but adds books (for being useful stores of knowledge) and works of art (for heightening a society's culture, and its overall refinement) as further items vital for the development of a sophisticated, civilized economy. Ruskin also criticizes the excess concentration of wealth into few hands, terming the phenomena a 'disease of desire', and discusses the role of governments and law. Although primarily famous as a leading art critic, John Ruskin had great interest in the economy and the workings of the society in which he lived. Ruskin witnessed a period that saw his country, the United Kingdom, industrialize at a rapid pace. While great machines and wealth were created as never before, the poor (for whom Ruskin had great sympathy) suffered in abject poverty.