Alan Ryan's provocative introduction lays out the central issues debated by John
Stuart Mill's many interpreters; in addition, it assesses Mill's historical
significance and provides a brief account of his life. In recent years, scholars
have increasingly focused on the connection between On Liberty and Mill's other
writings. This Norton Critical Edition brings together three major essays that
illustrate Mill's liberal political philosophy over the course of his life: "The
Spirit of the Age" (1831), On Liberty (1859), and The Subjection of Women
(1869). Related excerpts from John Stuart Mill's Autobiography (1873, published
posthumously) are also included. Each text is accompanied by explanatory
annotations. "Commentary" collects seven major