Recommended Reads


I am a presumptuous bastard. If you have spent any time on this site, you can easily see this. I have, here, listed some of my favorite books, poems, and plays, so that you, my visitor, can lose yourself in a good read. Some of these may not be particularly literary, or may be literary but relatively unknown; nonetheless, here you have it. I have placed some works in a century or period, in case you do not happen to be familiar with them.

Directory


The Best in Early English
The English Renaissance
The very, very long Eighteenth Century
The Best of the British from the Romantics to the Victorians
Our American Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century
Great Twentieth Century Works in English
Interesting Contemporary Novels
Finally, amazing Poeticworks.
Have any suggestions or comments?


Early English

Unless you are a scholar of Old or Middle English, I do not suggest reading these without a translation. Try a few of the later ones, you may be surprised at how much you do understand.

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English Renaissance

Trust me.

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The Long Eighteenth Century

Again, you might be surprised

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The Romantics through the Victorians (Britain)

This list might surprise some folks. By this period, epic poetry, which had been listed above, slowed in appearance. With the exception of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, in fact, few poetic works will appear on this list, so before I am crucified by the literary police, go below to the Poetry section if you feel someone has been excluded in error. Novels had just begun to appear in the previous era and were coming into their own as an art form by this period, hence the beginning of the division between poets and novelists.

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Forming America

The formation of American Literature is fascinating, an evolution with which I concern myself daily. The first "American" Literatures after the Revolution are seen here, and through the Romantic period and Realism & Naturalism period, one can witness the growth of that character unique to the Americans, labeled by Emerson the "plain old Adam." Enjoy as many of these as you can. You will not be disappointed.

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Great Novels of the Twentieth Century

Both British and American authors are included on this list, which runs from roughly the end of World War I to the seventies or so. Again, some may not be absolutely "Literary", but they are great reads.

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Contemporary Novels

Many of these are not necessarily considered "Literary," but they are all good books. I hope you enjoy them.

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Great Poetry

Okay, the works in italics are volumes of poetry, while works in "quotes" are single poems.

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This list is far from comprehensive. I may have, indeed, forgotten something. If you have a suggestion or a comment, please, e-mail me. In the meantime, you can check out my Poem of the Moment or my Poetry Archive of past Poems of the Moment. You can even return to one of the above sections by navigating to the top of the page.

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