The Western Canon Starter Kit: The Middle Ages!

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Me on Twitter: / stdonoghue
The books this time around reflect a slight change of plans! I'd originally on including some works of so-called 'late antiquity' - particularly St. Augustine and Boethius - but I thought it was simpler to just jump ahead to the Middle Ages.
Dante's Divine Comedy! The Allen Mandelbaum translation, the Dorothy Sayers translation, etc.
And Mementomori's #DivineDante read-along!
• Video
Boccaccio's Decameron! Maybe try the Rebhorn translation:
quarterlyconver...
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales! The Neville Coghill version for Penguin
Classics, but also Sheila Fisher's great "selected" volume:
www.openletters...
Also - for the daring! - another fantastic Penguin edition:
www.goodreads....

Опубликовано:

16 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 28

@pattube 4 месяца назад

1. The Divine Comedy by Dante (Steve recommends Sayers and Mandelbaum, but use whatever worksforyou) 2. Decameron by Boccacio (Steve recommends McWilliams or Rebhorn) 3. The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer (probably Coghill translation)

@lilliannieswender266 7 лет назад

I have read all thee books you mentioned and feel that my life has been immeasurably enriched by having done so. I reread them every few years in different translations whenever possible.

@WeWiLLRefuse 7 лет назад

You're my hero, Steve! I've been waiting for you to do this for the longest time!

@stretmediq Год назад

I've read the entire core set of the Great Books of the Western World and all the Harvard Classics and it took me about 30 years

@laracroft1829 7 лет назад

I'm planning on joining Adam in his read along of The Decameron. Glad you are also taking part. Loving this series.

@mementomoriadam 7 лет назад

Thanks for mentioning your bro's read-a-long - I am looking forward to it! I should have a intro video up this coming week! I have absolutely love this series... and can not wait for the Dude Bro Lit Starter Kit!

@RunwrightReads 7 лет назад

I am really enjoying these Western Canon recommendations. I have yet to start the reading but this is so informative. I can't recall ever seeing another video like this before.

@bobbowden9590 7 лет назад

Delightful video, Steve!

@EpicoNubletto 7 лет назад

The Western Canon starter kit is back! Just started the Divine Comedy yesterday.

@geoffharper3895 7 лет назад

I will acclimatise myself to Geoff first as I have been meaning to read him for a long time; Dan and Bo can wait.

@suemoro 7 лет назад

Love the starter kit videos, and the view is beautiful. Next you should try walking as you talk so we can see more. Just DON'T TRIP! 😊

@thefrancophilereader8943 7 лет назад

Ooh Medieval! Shame on you for skipping Augustine and Boethius though ;) Augustine's Confessions and City of God are must-reads for understanding Western philosophy and politics. I love how you are making The Middle Ages accessible. This whole Western canon series has been wonderful! I look forward to participating in Adam's read-along of the Decameron. I am ashamed to say that I have never read Boccacio, Dante, or Chaucer. *Hangs head in shame* I have Mandelbaum's translation of Inferno and Purgatorio. But for some unknown reason I have Paradiso in a different translation. I am a terrible medievalist.

@saintdonoghue 7 лет назад

I agonized over leaving them out, particularly the Confessions! But in the end, I opted for the ruthless streamlining that is the very heart and soul of this particular Starter Kit!

@wcropp1 7 лет назад

I agree that Augustine is a must if you really want to understand the history of Western thought/literature. He is the figure that, arguably, connects the medieval and ancient worlds. The unabridged City of God is probably a tall order for many people, but the Confessions should be on everyone's bookshelves. If you're interested in philosophy and politics, though, add City of God to your list. And Boethius is the other skeleton key to the Middle Ages. I can't remember exactly how prevalent the Timaeus was, but the vast majority of Plato had disappeared from the medieval West. Much of what was available was translated by Boethius, IIRC. Aristotle didn't return until the proto-renaissance of the high Middle Ages, which made Augustine and Boethius the corner stones of Western thought for many years. This is a great series, isn't it?

@drawntostories5940 7 лет назад

Agreed, great series indeed! Nothing wrong with the ruthless streamlining, as this is about the essential core stuff, BUT Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy was so important to both Dante and Chaucer that it feels a bit wrong to skip him! Chaucer even translated him into (Middle) English - included in the Riverside Chaucer edition (which I don't recommend for reading, it's mainly a scholarly work). The concept of "Boethian Wheel" or "The wheel of fortune" in particular was influential throughout the Middle-Ages. Great 3 choices anyway, it's like the holy trinity of Middle-Age literature:)

@bighardbooks770 6 лет назад

The Medieval Reader I like Augustine's Confessions, too.

@bighardbooks770 6 лет назад

Mark Musa or John Ciardi's are much better translations of The Divine Comedy, imho.

@KathleenAnnBooks 7 лет назад

Of these I have only read Chaucer. I'm definitely going to join the Decameron readalong in September and at some point need to get around to reading Dante. I'm making my way through the Bible at the moment so I'm on the Western Canon! 😀👍

@saintdonoghue 7 лет назад

I hope I wasn't being presumptuous when I invited everybody to join Adam's read-along! Not sure what he'll do if 300 people decide to join in!

@KathleenAnnBooks 7 лет назад

You are in the clear with this one Steve because Adam asked me to join a few weeks ago. ;)

@marcusmusings 7 лет назад

I'm proud to say I have read all three: well, two thirds of the Divine Comedy. I got bored with Paradise after the first few cantos. I also might want to give Canterbury Tales a reread because I found it very meh after finishing it. Probably just read a bad translation

@bighardbooks770 6 лет назад

You like the Allen Mandelbaum trans? I have it but prefer Mark Musa's and John Ciardi's the best. (Admittedly Ive not read Dorothy Sayers, yet.)

@blakeray9856 5 лет назад

My opinion, of course: her notes and introduction are outstanding, and worth buying the books to read, but for some reason her translation puts me to sleep. Much prefer Ciardi, Mandelbaum, and Musa.

@J0zB 7 лет назад

Homework!

@bighardbooks770 6 лет назад

Have not read Decameron, admittedly.

@mrl9418 6 лет назад

Learn Italian to read Dante, Cavalcanti, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Tasso, Leopardi, Pirandello, Verga, Svevo, Ungaretti, Calvino but most importantly (you can skip all the others) Montale \😀/ Ok maybe read Calvino too though.