The Long Road to Being Well-Read (Part One)

The list author says:
	"Its for your own good... A good grounding in Classical drama and epic sets you up for life. Really."

The list author says:
	"Reading it will add a depth of understanding and clarity of reference to all the literature that came after..."

The list author says:
	"Unless you're familiar with Old English, read it in translation (of which Michael Alexander's is the best).  Heroic epic, dragons and shield-maidens. This is where Tolkien began..."

The list author says:
	"Norse epic at its most entertaining - the forefather of the Nibenlungenlied, Wagner's Ring Cycle and Lord of the Rings."

The list author says:
	"Absolutely vital for understanding the literature and mindset of the Middle Ages - this is an excellent translation that stays true to the poetical feel of the original Classical text."

The list author says:
	"Heavy, scholarly and completely indispensable.  Forget the single volume editions of Chaucer, the Riverside sets you up for life. And builds muscles."

The list author says:
	""...in which the whole art of love is contained..." - the most popular Romance of the mediaeval period and still highly entertaining.  Read Boethius before hand."

The list author says:
	"One of the first of the Italian masters, often reworked by Chaucer but with the dirtier parts left out."

The list author says:
	"Lives up to its name - a very "divine" read.  IMHO this translation is far, far superior to the Penguin one and the parallel text means you can compare with the original, Italian allowing."

The list author says:
	"Its all worth it in the end, trust me.  And mind boggling once you start thinking about it..."

The list author says:
	"Donne most certainly has my heart when it comes to Renaissance poetry - harsh, tender, cynical, violent and loving..."

The list author says:
	"Everyone knows about Shakespeare...you'll come across him again and again. So I'm giving him a gentle push aside in favour of Jacobean tragedy...Duchess of Malfi especially."

The list author says:
	"In my haste, I forgot Malory.  Bible for all things Arthurian and sometimes called the first "novel"...well worth the effort..."

The list author says:
	"Little people, big people and lots of political satire.  Definitely not the children's book some publisher seem to think it to be..."

The list author says:
	"The Victorians censored it as "a motley history of bastardism, fornication and adultery" - if thats not a recommendation in itself then what is??? ;-)"