The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, James McNeil Whistler, Edited by Sheridan Ford. Pirated Edition.

The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, James McNeil Whistler Edited by Sheridan Ford Rare pirated edition, preceding the trade and signed limited edition published later the same year. The book serves both as a response to and a detailed account of Whistler's notable defamation lawsuit against the critic John Ruskin. This legal battle stemmed from Ruskin's critique of Whistler's artwork, particularly his piece titled "Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket," which Ruskin disparagingly described as akin to recklessly throwing paint at the public. Additionally, the book compiles Whistler's various letters to newspapers, where he aired his numerous minor disputes with different people in his social circle. It also includes Whistler's renowned 1885 lecture "Ten O'Clock," where he elaborates on his views regarding the essence and objective of art. In August 1889, Sheridan Ford, a freelance journalist and art critic, started working on a comprehensive collection of Whistler's newspaper