I signed up to join a read-along of Proust, which Trevor from Mookse and Gripes has been setting up for the new year around the same time. I felt the need to read Dickens. My mind then started to drift, and as I have for many a year, I always feel even though I have reviewed over 1400 books, the blog is light on classic books in translation. Now, this is partly the fact I am to drawn to shiny new books and a little bit of me not being overly confident in reading classics. I often get upset, but I have been putting off reading a pile of books on my TBR. So I’ve drawn. Line in the sand and decided on 2025 as a year for classic books worldwide. I have put the cut-off year of 1939 so they have to have been originally published before 1939. To me, that seems a good point, including World War I and the run-up to the war in Europe, which has always been a period that has interested me. Of course, as far back Greek classics I read Homer and a few other years ago, but know there is some great new translations of classic around and some publishers have been brought out lost classics and new translations of books.. I am due to sort out my library at home early in the new year and will be doing a shelf for the coming year and I will also be going through my copy of 1001 books to see if there is any books to get. I want to cover as many countries in the next year.
Have you a favourite classics from around the world ?
Sounds like a great project! I hope to get some more good reading ideas from you next year
What a great idea – I can’t wait to see what you read!
Hi Stu, as you probably know I love JK Huysmans & you can read his “naturalist” stuff or jump right in at the start of the “decadent” movement with “Á Rebours’ (Against Nature). I really like Brendan King’s translations at Dedalus Books, he’s done most of his work, has written a biography on him and his introductions give you the context of each work. A writer worth trying, then there’s the whole lead up to decadence, Zola for example. Or you could try Balzac and something from his insane ‘La Comédie Humaine’. I also try and do a Dickens this time of year, so much on the go at the moment though, I may not get to him.
Good luck with the New Year’s resolution
Thanks I’ve some of them on my radar also planning a booker alternative list of 6-8 books that came out in one year on the thirty’s
What an interesting project Stu. One I enjoyed was from Brazil – Dom Casmurro – though I suspect its so well known you’ve probably already read it
Oh must look that up I’ve some jorge Amado on my tbr
Well, this will be fantastic, because I suspect I’m like most people, I know the well-known classics in translation from Russia, France and Germany… and then… um Italy… and then …nothing. So it will be interesting to discover classics from other countries, plus, I read most of my classics many, many years ago and it will be great to rediscover them through the eyes of someone as well read as you are.
Yes I’ve a couple of Italians books also planning an alternative booker list of 6-8 books from one year in the 1930’s
Great idea Stu! Proust will be marvellous, and I would recommend anything by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. Tolstoy I find quite easy to read, it’s just the length!! Dostoevsky can be harder, so maybe try one of his shorter works like The Gambler to start off with! Good luck!
They both on my radar as I’ve a number from both on my tbr
What a great idea, looking forward to some interesting posts (and my tbr list getting longer!)
This sounds like a great idea – I can’t wait to see what you read!