How did you choose your list? I am currently rebuilding my classroom library for my students to have a foundation in the classics. I’ve found a few curated lists, but I’m curious about your criteria for the greatest 200 writers.
I reviewed a number of existing lists, requested suggestions from both professors and the general community, tried to extend beyond just the Western Canon, attempted to include the foundational text from each of the major religions, and tried to find the authors who were in communication with one another. I've been honing it for the past few years, so I may make slight alterations, but it's probably pretty close to its final form.
I love this! Thank you for sharing your list. I have my own personal "Core Reading" before I die as well. I have recently reduced it from 550 Authors to 350 haha. Hopefully the good Lord will keep me.
I admire your ambition, but if you're serious about "complete works" you've got about 140 years of reading material. The opera omnia of Luther and Calvin run well over 100 volumes. The Gawain poet wrote four or five poems, and the Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, probably encompass 15-20 vols. (just to name a few).
By the way, classical music often refers to opus numbers (Beethoven op.18, no. 1-6 string quartets, for example). And the word opera is also used to refer to a musical drama like Fidelio.
Yeah, I put a little caveat in there of "within reason," so I will narrow down authors like Luther, Calvin, and others. But for the moment, pursuing the complete works of Plato, the tragedy playwrights, and Aristotle are doable. I'm keeping it very flexible as I'd like to get through these 200 authors before I die.
Excellent. I like your system, and especially like the fact that you've included world literature. I've been doing a lot of reading since I retired, but too haphazardly I fear.
How did you choose your list? I am currently rebuilding my classroom library for my students to have a foundation in the classics. I’ve found a few curated lists, but I’m curious about your criteria for the greatest 200 writers.
I reviewed a number of existing lists, requested suggestions from both professors and the general community, tried to extend beyond just the Western Canon, attempted to include the foundational text from each of the major religions, and tried to find the authors who were in communication with one another. I've been honing it for the past few years, so I may make slight alterations, but it's probably pretty close to its final form.
I'm thrilled to find someone who also has this kind of reading project. And I'
ll make podcast for each classics.
I love this! Thank you for sharing your list. I have my own personal "Core Reading" before I die as well. I have recently reduced it from 550 Authors to 350 haha. Hopefully the good Lord will keep me.
I admire your ambition, but if you're serious about "complete works" you've got about 140 years of reading material. The opera omnia of Luther and Calvin run well over 100 volumes. The Gawain poet wrote four or five poems, and the Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, probably encompass 15-20 vols. (just to name a few).
By the way, classical music often refers to opus numbers (Beethoven op.18, no. 1-6 string quartets, for example). And the word opera is also used to refer to a musical drama like Fidelio.
But go for it!
Yeah, I put a little caveat in there of "within reason," so I will narrow down authors like Luther, Calvin, and others. But for the moment, pursuing the complete works of Plato, the tragedy playwrights, and Aristotle are doable. I'm keeping it very flexible as I'd like to get through these 200 authors before I die.
Excellent. I like your system, and especially like the fact that you've included world literature. I've been doing a lot of reading since I retired, but too haphazardly I fear.