Ibn Khaldun lived in the... I want to say 14th century in North Africa, and wanted to write a world history. He well may have done, too, but posterity only really cares for the superb introduction to it (muqaddimah is Arabic for "introduction" or "prologue"
, which has a number of extremely modern-sounding ideas on economics, sociology and their influence on history. He analyses things like power structures, the differences between rural and urban communities, tribal nomadic cultures transitioning into sedentary ones, economic concepts, and so on. I've read even less of him than of the Greek and Latin authors, as I read even slower in (hard) Arabic than in those languages, but I was very impressed by what I did read.

That sounds interesting.
As for the Dutch ones, I imagine you'd be able to read them if you tried, what with Norwegian being closet Dutch.
Hooft is a 16th century history and poet, wrote Petrarca-esque sonnets and iirc some history on rhyme that I've never bothered to read. Vondel is a bit later, poet and playwright, and notable for having written a play, Lucifer, which is a likely influence on Milton's Paradise Lost (we have reason to believe Milton knew enough Dutch to read it).

I will not be reading Dutch poetry in Dutch, thank you very much. Prose I might handle. Not potery.
I agree. On all counts. Except I haven't read Achterberg and this Elroy Flecker person. I did not list Borges, but that was only because I got paranoid about period. I felt that if I was going to list him, I would have to list Calvino, and that would open a can of worms. It is silly. I think it is because Borges is so post-modern in outlook, while writing earlier.
I like both Virgil and Dickens, but I can see how some might not. Or how you might hesitate to approach them. It is a little like the image of Tolstoy's War and Peace that is bandied about. None of them are actually what they are presented as. Dickens is cheery much of the time, and almost always end on a happy ending. Virgil does draw on Greek myth, but it really transforms it, and I think anyone interested in history will find it fascinating.
Makes sense. I think I actually may have read a prose summary of the Aeneid, or some such... but not the real thing. I'm sure I'll read them at some point.
If you want to start easy on Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities or The Mystery of Edwin Drood might be good. Little Dorrit and Bleak House (paradoxically) are both quite happy in the end. For some. Not all.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
The Classics - general discussion / survey
30/09/2010 03:52:53 PM
- 1474 Views
My own answers.
30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM
- 1058 Views
Re: My own answers.
30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM
- 1085 Views
Powdered Soup!
30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM
- 1106 Views
Re: Powdered Soup!
30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM
- 1339 Views
Re: Powdered Soup!
30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM
- 1029 Views
Well, have you seen any of the Austen TV/movie adaptations, then?
30/09/2010 10:25:58 PM
- 1047 Views
Oh yes. I even made the mistake of purchasing the new Pride and Prejudice for her.
01/10/2010 12:10:05 AM
- 1036 Views
Cliff's notes
05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM
- 1101 Views
Re: Cliff's notes
05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM
- 1314 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value.
30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM
- 1032 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value.
30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM
- 1054 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value.
30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM
- 1013 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value.
30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM
- 879 Views
I really need to read Kundera. I've heard nothing but praise for Unbearable Lightness. *NM*
30/09/2010 08:46:18 PM
- 567 Views
I could post you over a copy to borrow.
30/09/2010 08:58:08 PM
- 877 Views
That is very kind, but I have far too much to do to read non-school books, unfortunately.
30/09/2010 10:53:23 PM
- 957 Views

Haven't read any other Kundera, but yes, that one is very enjoyable. *NM*
30/09/2010 09:50:30 PM
- 571 Views
I found his other books to be pale copies of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. *NM*
30/09/2010 10:51:55 PM
- 609 Views
I study them, apparently.
30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM
- 1128 Views
I wish I could do that.
30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM
- 1034 Views
Less fun than you'd think.
30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM
- 902 Views

More admiration of your discipline than assuming you were having fun with it.
01/10/2010 12:31:06 AM
- 1076 Views

Re: The Classics - general discussion / survey .. edited.
30/09/2010 08:58:14 PM
- 1086 Views
I knew you would have a rather lengthy list. I was worried until the edit came through.
01/10/2010 02:26:34 AM
- 1106 Views

Good survey.
30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM
- 1103 Views

Agreed. edited
30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM
- 1063 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful
30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM
- 998 Views

Sometimes.
30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM
- 1024 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole.
30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM
- 1041 Views

I generally do.
30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM
- 1026 Views
Excellent.
Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested...
30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM
- 1204 Views

Re: Excellent.
Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested...
30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM
- 1033 Views

Ah Cliff, I bow to thee
30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM
- 1128 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee
01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM
- 988 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee
01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM
- 1067 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee
01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM
- 1012 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise
01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM
- 1127 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her.
01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM
- 826 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago.
01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM
- 1035 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club...
02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM
- 1162 Views