Wagner spent the year 1870 almost exclusively in the idyllically situated country house of Tribschen near Lucerne. He dedicated himself to artistic creation (Siegfried, Götterdämmerung). In March Wagner began seriously thinking about settling in Bayreuth in order to realize his festival idea. In July Hans and Cosima von Bülow were divorced, and Wagner was able to wed his life companion in Lucerne on 25 August. His reclusive life did not prevent him from taking active part in the events around him. To begin with, there were performances of his works, in particular the world premiere of Walküre in Munich. The main topic of the second half of the year was the Franco-Prussian War, which was heartily applauded by Wagner. The volume contains 273 letters, 50 of which are printed here for the first time, and 23 others published in their entirety for the first time.