It's also my absolute favorite, this is the book I would pick if I had to pick only one for the rest of my life, everything we need to know to start thinking against ourselve is in there. I'm very excited for the french movie coming up this summer even if I think it deserves a whole serie rather, I loved the 1998 with Gérard Depardieu, you need to watch it if you didn't, it's the best adaptation imo. Loved the vid ! ❤
I won't come back, I'm afraid. Sorry. <3 I'm veery active on Goodreads though, if you're interested what I'm reading. It's linked in the description. :)
Thank you for the info on Wilson's translation, I've been listening to a very old version, I'll just funish that then start again with the Emily's version.
My favorites: 1. Everyman's Library. In general, these are my favorite for the combination of great quality and great price (relative to quality). 2. Modern Library. Similar to Everyman's Library in terms of the combination of quality and price. I tend to prefer Everyman's slightly more, but honestly it could be more or less a toss-up between Everyman and Modern Library depending on the particular book in question (e.g. Moby Dick in the Modern Library has Rockwell Kent's absolutely beautiful artwork). 3. MacMillan Collector's Library. These are great little books as long as one doesn't mind the fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand size. They're super affordable too, at least in the USA. Currently around $15 or less. 4. Library of America. As is obvious from the name, it only has American literature (e.g. Melville, Twain, Faulkner). Also, the paper is a bit thin, with associated issues (e.g. bleed-through), whereas I tend to like heavier gsm which tends to be more opaque like in Everyman and Modern Library. Still, the Library of America produces high quality volumes that are worth owning. 5. Thomas Nelson seasonal collection. A bit big, bit beautifully designed and affordable. Currently, there isn't a huge selection. 5. Folio Society. As most bibliophiles know, this is the highest quality, but also the highest price. I'd love to own one of these someday, but I won't be able to afford it any time soon!
Unfortunately perhaps not readily available in GB/Europe: Library of America, regrettably the dust jackets are uniformly black but the acid-free paper and nice flop are big improvements over older editions; New York Review Books, unfortunately very stiff on the flop so much so that unless you are willing to break the binding you must hold the book firmly and almost crane to read the last word at the break; Everyman’s Library, best version of many unheralded classics (Joseph Roth, Ítalo Svevo). Also earlier Modern Library before the tie-in covers to the latest movie or BBC version of the novel.
The problem with "Black" is that it's attributed to mixed raced people, who hardly look African anymore all the time. It doesn't matter if 3/4 of your grandparents are white, if you're a tinge darker than olive, you're black. Dumas was mixed.
I read the "Autobiography of Malcolm X" during the COVID lockdowns. I encourage all other young men to read it despite who they are, because chances are they will see parts of themselves in El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz--as he was known in his post-Hajj years. All of the rage and the disillusionment was seen within him, until he eventually found that education was freedom, whether in a prison library or on his way to Mecca. Malcolm was a complicated figure who was the "bane of the white man" but also a prominent civil rights leader, whose autobiography is both inspirational and a cautionary tale.
The criticism of Dumas by white elite may have also been because his work actually criticized the "elite" that had no noble blood. That stung many people at the time this book was written because it portrays the working class doing anything they can ( like Napoleon) to move up the social ladder. There was racism and it will always exist, but let's not be so ignorant as to say this was the only factor these whites criticized Dumas. When the elite are exposed they tend to try and destroy the person ( regardless of race) any way they can...even stoop to the level of personal attacks.
The most important reason some of these elites criticized Dumas was because he was too popular. His stories (by the time serialized in magazines) were read by too many people to be considered intelligent, profound and worth reading. The elites didn't try to destroy Dumas but a good portion of them didn't have a lot of esteem towards him, and Dumas' goal wasn't to expose the elites (in fact he wanted to join the French Academy but he was rejected like Balzac or Stendhal) and himself was pretty much a member of the elites.
I never said it was the only factor. I agree that Dumas was criticised for various reasons, one of them being his popularity, it was the same for Dickens and other mainstream authors.
When my sister and I found out about this we were shocked how it’s never talked about. Appreciate your deep dive into his family history, did not see that in the quick wiki search 🤭
I read my Penguin Clothbound version of Vergil's Aeneid. I tipped the book as I read it instead of cracking the spine. And even with the minimal handling, multiple soldiers were damaged. It essentially made me stop buying them. I'll grab them in 2nd hand shops (and a badly damaged copy at B&N on clearance), but I'm not willing to invest in them anymore.
It's funny how the Illiad and the Odyssey heavily played a role in the stories of the West, Journey to the West played a large role in Eastern literature, and (I believe) the Contendings of Horus and Seth played a role in African lit.
Hello! I love your videos and would be happy to see more! As someone who recently moved to Germany from Canada, where do you buy English books?? Do you mostly order online? I have a Graf and a Thalia in my city, but the English sections are so small 🥲
When you said that after _The Hobbit_ instead of LotR one could also read... I was thinking "you're not gonna recommend folks to jump right into the Silmarillion?!?" but then you held up _Roverandom_ and _Perilous Realm_ ! That was unexpected but nice to see these "minor Tolkiens" get a shoutout. Hardly anybody ever talks about them, it seems. Ich habe mir ein paar deiner verlinkten Rezis auf GR angeschaut und gesehen, dass du eine Landsmännin von mir bist! Hab mal gekuckt, welche Bücher wir gemeinsam haben und das allererste war ein TKKG-Buch! 😁
TKKG einfach unschlagbar. Mochte die Bücher damals unheimlich gerne! Tolkiens Universum ist so reichhaltig. Da ist eigentlich für jeden was dabei. Ich fand das "Silmarillion" fast leichter zu verdauen, als "Der Herr der Ringe", aber ich weiß auch, dass viele (vor allem Erstleser*innen) ihre Schwierigkeiten mit dem Text haben. "Roverandom" und "Perilous Realm" hingegen sind sehr verspielt und recht leicht zu verstehen, das sollte eigentlich niemanden überfordern, so zumindest meine Überlegung. :>
The Norton Critical Editions are so bad at the same time as being so so good! I buy them sometimes in addition to an alternate version just so I have the massive amount of extra content. They are not the best for readability with the small text and thin paper (excluding the use footnotes which is awesome). Also, they use unusual translations (not the academic standards), being as they go for more academic readers, though I guess this is down to the publisher monopoly of Penguin RH etc. I wish I could find their work in hardback with bigger text.
I totally agree with you! The additional information they provide is unmatched but in terms of quality of the binding/pages/font etc. there's lots of room for improvement.
@@booksbyleynes Yes, I wish they could up their game on it even if it cost a bit more. I guess they went with a compromise of having all that content while still being affordable.
Penguin Clothbound Classics review: I actually really like them and I think Leynes was a bit unfair, mostly... They do have a huge problem, which is the graphic comes off really easily, including from being in your hand reading them, without a cover on. If that doesn't bother you I find they are as good a quality as most hardbacks at that price: Good print, well spaced, always comfortable to read I Like the paper, nice thickness (edit - excluding ones 1000~ pages), nice white colour, can see the print on the previous page a little, but I've not highlighted or annotated them They aren't floppy, but none of by hardbacks at that price are Translations are normally good if you want more modern prose Normally quite good intros and notes etc
Thanks for your review. I know that opinions differ on these editions, they're quite controversial. :) I don't know if my review of them is biased bc I mainly own very thick books from them (Bleak House & Don Quixote both have over 1000 pages) but the paper is thin, it's not as bad as bible paper but "nice thickness" is not something I personally would use to describe them. I know book prices differ from country to country but here in Germany you can get much nicer editions (from German publishers) for that price.
@@booksbyleynes Yes, TBF they have given them the impression of aesthetics over substance when the graphic comes off just from reading them or peeling the sticker off 😂 Judging by the cover can cut both ways. That makes sense, I've got Metamorphosis around 750 pages and the paper is actually bit thinner than my others, so maybe the paper is even thinner on the 1000+ ones (I'll edit the OP to make that clear). I got a bunch for a steal when they were half price in Waterstone, in the UK, but I think they are around the same price as ones like the Everyman Library clothbound Hardbacks here, which are good too. Really appreciate you showing us your collection :)
@@radroatch Yes, very true. But the design of them is indeed gorgeous. Coralie Bickford-Smith's designs usually are! So excited for you that you got a bunch of them for half the price. What a steal!
@@booksbyleynes Waterstones, our biggest retailer, must have had a bad Christmas that year as they stuck all hardbacks on half price on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas), so they were basically cheaper than the paperbacks!
I would say look up a good prose translation. Contrary to intellectual circles advice these tend to be more accurate to the true meaning of the text and easier as a reading experience. Verse only really makes sense if read out loud, or by audiobook, which is more in line with the traditional point anyway. Personally, I much prefer reading sections of Alexander Pope's much more flowy verse instead of Fagles, even though it is much less actuate as I also have read an accurate prose version.
Interesting take! I agree that verse versions are meant to be read aloud. Even though I don't do it the whole way through I usually end up reading aloud to myself at least a couple of pages per chapter.
@@booksbyleynes I don't read much English lanuage literature beyond the Canadians. When I do I try to, when it is relevant, go for the best critical text and best critical notes. Norton Critical Editions and Broadview editions of English classics (and beyond) are excellent in both instances. My problem with Wordsworth are that their translations and English language classics are mostly in the public domain and aren't generally based on the best critical texts and the best translations. I do generally avoid P&V translations.
@@wolandbegemotazazello Ah, I see. Makes total sense. :) I really appreciate the research that goes into the Norton Critical Editions as well, they're excellent!
I wish I had seen this video before buying this edition of Odyssey which is a prose translation by Butler. I just assumed since it's in verse, the translation would be in verse as well
@@booksbyleynes i was reading a lot when you were actively publishing and used your videos to keep me going on my reading goals I fell off but rewatching your old vids brings me back happy to hear your alright
@@nikacquah3205 i've been super active on goodreads, sharing all my reviews, just no longer interested in video content, i'm doing fine though <3 wishing you the best!
I can vouch for your black spine metamorphosis lasting you years. Mine is still going strong after 20 years almost. Also, if you enjoy classics from global literature, you should definitely check out these penguin titles from Indian classics - “Kadambari” by Bana, “The appeasement of Radhika” by Muddupalani, “Subhashitavali”, “Tales of the ten princes” by Dandin, “A tale of wonder” by Srivara and the works of the author Kshemendra. Its such a pity so few people know of Indian classics. But these books are incredible and I always recommend them to readers.
Alexander Dumas Was An Book Author And A Great True Story Teller 📚 🖋️ 🎥🍿!! Thanks For Telling Us The Truth About The Great Book Author .. Mr. Alexander Dumas Of Being Of Mixed Race!! A Black Man ♂️ First And Every Other Race Secondly.
I don’t know much about collecting editions so this is great. Of the ones I’ve been able to own, are the Norton critical editions. I was gifted one by my English teacher when she was emptying her library, it was for Jane Eyre. And it included letter written by Charlotte Brontë. And I enjoyed the essays, as well as footnotes are so helpful for giving context to words we aren’t familiar with or references. I have one more Norton Critical for North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. But yes I’m glad for this video, I do love bigger text also. It’s helpful for when I want to buy my next book. I didn’t realize how important editions could be to the reading experience. I have a Moby Dick in the Signet classics edition, and it’s so tiny and it would hurt my thumbto try to keep the page open.
What is your accent? Is it 2 different ones mixed together? I knew nothing about the racial or family background of the author of 'The Three Musketeers'.
JRR Tolkien's day job was as a University Lecturer at Oxford in Old English, meaning the oldest surviving period of the English language, from Anglo-Saxon times, recorded from the 7th to 11th Centuries, which is so different from modern English as to be effectively a different language. I have studied a little of it. The Anglo-Saxons almost certainly did have a wealth of poems and legends handed down by word of mouth featuring elves, dwarves, giants and pagan gods like Thor. However, most of this is now lost as all significant Anglo-Saxon writings date from after they converted from pagans to Christians, and the main centres of literacy and book production were the Church and especially monasteries. The Church mostly did not like preserving literature associated with paganism. Hence most of our ideas about elves, dwarves and the like tend to come from later Icelandic literature that grew out of what had once been a pagan tradition common to all the Germanic peoples. An exception is the Old English epic poem Beowulf, about a hero who fights a man-eating giant, then a witch who lives in a cave under water, and finally dies fighting a dragon for its hoard of treasure. This seems to have been composed by a poet who was a Christian, writing in the style of the older pagan poems but with all references to pagan gods removed, which probably made this acceptable to the Church, and hence it was preserved. The story of Beowulf is interesting but the language in the original is especially complicated and difficult, and does not work particularly well in translation.
@@booksbyleynesI'm just saying it takes away the element of surprise and you can give a critique without revealing too much of the plot. Your passion is all too evident, but this is not a personal attack, it's just an observation. I watch Benjamin McEvoy and his approach on book reviews inspires one to discover the book for yourself.
'It is much more a book of homecoming than a book of adventure' Interesting and possibly profound insight into the Odyssey there. 8.00 'My favourite chapter was 22, which is the slaughter of the suitors...this wonderful slaughter in Odysseus' home, I loved this, it was exciting, it was exhilarating, it was brutal, it was bloody, it was gory, it was just a great climax for this story, I loved it a lot...I had a fun time reading it!' Glad you felt such enthusiasm for the slaying, which I agree is the most exciting part, although perhaps we should both discuss this reaction with our therapists! Definitely 'don't try this at home', in view of modern laws and values, even if you do happen to find 108 unwelcome suitors in your house. Your point towards the end about having to remember and allow for the fact that people in 2,800 years old literature [or even 100 years old!] will not have the same values as we do is another important one. 'The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there'. As I have said on other internet forums, if there is still some kind of civilisation on Earth in 2,800 years time, and they have Professors of Ancient English studying and translating the literature and history of our time, they will very likely find some of the values we take for granted as shockingly primitive as we do with some of those of Homer's time. This suggests, not that things like slavery and subordination of women are good, but that we should forgive the fact that otherwise good people in those times did not realise they were bad. 'Cultural sensitivity' should apply just as much to the past as to dealing with societies in the present with different culture and values to ours. By the way, I personally prefer the Emily Wilson translation, but that is just my opinion.
'don't try this at home' - bahaha that made me cackle. thank you for sharing your observations. i'm open to try the Wilson translation in the future. :)
thank you so much <3 i'm currently on break but can see myself coming back towards the end of the year/ the new year. in the meantime, i still rate and review every book that i read on goodreads (linked in bio). :)
