William Ashton Ellis

Born in London, the son of the surgeon Robert Ellis (1823–1877), he was originally intended to follow a medical career.

[1] Ellis wrote that Wagner's music and ideas would free mankind "from the tightening grip of crushing scientific materialism" of his era: "at no time [had] there been such a widespread desire to search all things, and to bring forth some of the hidden secrets of that which is above and beyond matter.

"[2] Ellis's own articles in "The Meister" included reviews of material by other writers on Wagner, (including the biography by Houston Stewart Chamberlain), a review of the letters of Franz Liszt, and an exposé of the mendacious account of Wagner's early life by Ferdinand Praeger.

In the meantime, lacking any regular source of income, thanks to the efforts of George Bernard Shaw, he had been awarded a Civil List pension in recognition of his work.

[4] They have remained a standard, even though Ellis's tortuous phrasing (faithful to Wagner's original style) can make them hard work.