You ShutUp Now

The original version of The Gay Science, which is what we will read, was published in 1882 and did not include the large Preface, Book V, or the Appendix of Songs. From 1872, when The Birth of Tragedy was published to 1882, a great deal happened in Nietzsche's life. In particular, he wrote Untimely Meditations (1873-6), Human, All Too Human (1878-80), and Daybreak (1881) during this period. His relationship with Wagner came to an end, Nietzsche presenting Wagner with a draft of Human, All Too Human and Wagner presenting Nietzsche with a draft of Parsifal, at their last meeting in Sorrento, Italy, in November 1876. No two works could have demonstrated their separate trajectories more emphatically. Nietzsche's health had declined throughout this period and, having already taken several leaves-of-absence, he finally resigned his professorship in Basle in 1879. Having surrendered German citizenship to take the position at Basle and, now, having surrendered that position, Nietzsche was literally a man without a country or institutional foundation. In order to play to better health, he adopted an "annual round" --- spending summer in the Alps, spring and fall in Turin, and winter in Sorrento. Only on occasion did he travel back to see friends or family in Switzerland or Germany.