Classics for Pleasure

There are so many books to read! Michael Dirda's new compilation Classics for Pleasure is described as "Not your Father's - or your Mother's - list of classics". There are very few titles in common with some of the more popular guides such as The New Lifetime Reading Plan. Dirda's list focuses on the entertaining and enjoyable including Lucian, Denis Diderot, Emile Zola, James Agee, Sapho, Cicero, Alexander Pope, James Hogg, Robert Byron, Petronius, Rudyard Kipling, Ovid, Ezra Pound and dozens of others. (Note that these touchstones may not reference the works described in Dirda's book). It would be interesting to here thoughts about this book and its suggestions.

I don't know why the touchstone for this newest Michael Dirda work, didn't work. Also, pardon the typo in the last sentence. I'd like to hear about this list, here.

I liked that he included Du Maurier's Rebecca which is one of my favorite books. I enjoy reading anything by Michael Dirda as I don't find him pretentious.

Here's a hard wired link to Classics for Pleasure.

The book conveys Dirda's enthusiasms pretty well. His brevity loses weight. He also explicitly omits the contents of the latest Fadiman and of his own earlier books. So this may not be the comprehensive reference that the title might make one hope for. It nevertheless has charms, and I hope to read much of what he has pointed to.

For its deficiencies, I would suggest a library copy or waiting for the paperback.

Robert

I am pleased that you mentioned one of my favourite authors.

RUDYARD KIPLING.

I feel he is much mis-understood, and, unfortunately, (almost) forgotten.

Guido.

Edited to add almost.

I've never read anything by Kipling. My impression is that he has been demoted to some kind of children's author. I"ll have to read some of his work. Any suggestions?

Dear Sandydog1,

Unfortunately I was just going from memory, sometimes a more than 30+ year ago memory, when I mentioned/recommended Kipling.

I have never thought of him as a Childrens Author, in fact I have never read his KIM and his Jungle Tales! More for the TBR pile. sigh.
I just fell in love with his Short Stories.

I suggest you read the short stories, started in WWI and especially the ones he wrote after his son was killed.
Some of his "proto" Science Fiction SF stories are also good, if you like the GENRE. And you are talking to a SFista.

Unfortunately I can't give you any more Specific references -most of my books are still in storage, But I would like to hear what you think of Rudyard.

Guido,

A good short story from Kipling, not for children as it deals with war, is Mary Postgate. I have it in a collection called The Treasury of English Short Stories.

#6 Sandydog1, your statement “My impression is that he has been demoted to some kind of children's author.” rankles.

Being a children’s author is not a demotion. Demotion being defined as: “To reduce in grade, rank, or status.”

The Jungle Book, The Second Jungle Book, Just So Stories, Puck of Pook's Hill, etc. are classics of children’s literature.

>9 MI6Agent006: Got it loud and clear. Some of my favorite titles are or at least were, children's books.

Dear #8, is that the one where a prime and proper Enlish woman looks at a
young German Pilot dying in her garden - shot down - and wonders whether she should kill him?

#11, talk about a spoiler alert! But, yes that's the one.

Hey, mstrust, The story is more subtle than that, and I didn't give away the ending.
But, my intent about that story was about Kiplings beautiful writing style.
Yes I was a bit clumsy.
I still hope it will inspire Sandydog1 to read it!

Yours, Guido.

Now that sure doesn't sound like The Poky Little Puppy! Yes, I will put Kipling on the ol' TBR pile.

Hey Guido, don't worry about it. Glad to meet another short story fan.

Ok, to quote Samuel Boswell, via Clifton Fadiman:

A lady once asked Samuel Johnson why in his Dictionary he had defined "pastern" as the "knee" of a horse. "Ignorance, madam, pure ignorance."

I just read Mary Postgate. Yes it was a very good, concise, brief, adult-themed story. I am looking forward to reading some more Kipling.