Sure. I like the chapter on Kafka especially but he’s not for everyone. I thought there was some resonance in what you write here. In any case, nice ideas.
When I was in university, Chaucer was required reading. Our professor read part of the Canterbury Tales aloud, pronouncing the words as I imagine they were pronounced in Chaucer's time. I was enchanted. Perhaps it would be less entralling if it were written in modern English. Sometimes when I meet a certain kind of man, a line pops into my head: E var a parfit gentyl knycht. (I hope I didn't massacre that. It has been many decades since I read it.)
I believe the books you want to re-read every decade (or more often) have earned that status because they spoke to you, awoke something inside you, evoked strong emotion. The author has communicated to you, but may fail to communicate to the next person, or even to you, had you read that book at a different time in your life. The enduring ones speak to some universal truth you recognize.
I find it less enchanting in translation yes. I had a tutor who believed that line to be ironic, which changes it rather. There are books that continually communicate to many people and those are the canon, more or less.
I’ve read two howl books and three or four crestomaci. Got the third howl on the way. Have got stuck half way through Magicians of Caprona… too complicated. Fire and Hemlock is in my pile… recommendations for next steps?
Sorry I must have missed this at the time. Yes I agree about “western” — it just happens to be all I know enough about to say anything useful. I would think some tutelage is essential for modernism !
Lovely reflection and ideas here. I recommend Italy Calvino’s How to Read the Classics or is this inspired by it?
Thanks! Not inspired by it at all... will have a reread but have previously found him impenetrable after a while
Sure. I like the chapter on Kafka especially but he’s not for everyone. I thought there was some resonance in what you write here. In any case, nice ideas.
I shall try again--been some time!
Sorry I think it’s Why Read the Classics
Ah yes I think so and that question I find that question somewhat less engaging
Currently reading Mr Palomar by Calvino, the first I’ve ever read by him, and it’s utterly fascinating.
When I was in university, Chaucer was required reading. Our professor read part of the Canterbury Tales aloud, pronouncing the words as I imagine they were pronounced in Chaucer's time. I was enchanted. Perhaps it would be less entralling if it were written in modern English. Sometimes when I meet a certain kind of man, a line pops into my head: E var a parfit gentyl knycht. (I hope I didn't massacre that. It has been many decades since I read it.)
I believe the books you want to re-read every decade (or more often) have earned that status because they spoke to you, awoke something inside you, evoked strong emotion. The author has communicated to you, but may fail to communicate to the next person, or even to you, had you read that book at a different time in your life. The enduring ones speak to some universal truth you recognize.
I find it less enchanting in translation yes. I had a tutor who believed that line to be ironic, which changes it rather. There are books that continually communicate to many people and those are the canon, more or less.
Rosemary Sutcliff is wonderful. Strongly influenced by Kipling, if we're tracing lineages.
Puck of Pook's Hill must be one of the most underrated books in terms of its sheer influence on later writers!
How is the DWJ binge going?
I’ve read two howl books and three or four crestomaci. Got the third howl on the way. Have got stuck half way through Magicians of Caprona… too complicated. Fire and Hemlock is in my pile… recommendations for next steps?
Sorry I must have missed this at the time. Yes I agree about “western” — it just happens to be all I know enough about to say anything useful. I would think some tutelage is essential for modernism !