The Classics Club is bringing back their monthly question, beginning with:
Which classic author have you read more than one, but not all, of their books and which of their other books would you want to read in the future?
For me, it’s Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, without a doubt. His Gulag Archipelago has been the hit of my entire classics club experience. He speaks with profound moral authority, and his epic threw light not only on the baked-in evils of the Soviet system, but on the moral minefield that is being human. I first heard of Solzhenitsyn via Joseph Pearce, I believe, and I’ve been planning on doing a Solzhenitsyn series that would include some of his smaller works along with his biography, written by Pearce. On the radar would be Invisible Allies, A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile.
Reading Freely 
With me it’s going to be Charles Dickens I think. I’ve read a few of his so far but own all of his books. I’m not going to read his last (unfinished) novel – I mean, why would you? It was a *mystery* after all! – but I’ll read the rest. So far I’ve been VERY impressed.
He’s an interesting author — serious but often comic. I’ve enjoyed most everything I’ve read by them, though I have focused on the low-hanging fruit…nothing huge like Bleak House.
Some of his works are HUGE! I’m reading them in SIZE order I think! Then again I’m powering through an almost 800 page novel now, so…… We’ll see how it goes!
Oof! Even with something fun like HP that can be a struggle.
Solzhenitsyn is a voice for personal liberty! Gulag was or is on my personal cannon. I’ve read Day in the Life…and I’d like to someday read A Soul in Exile.
Hey, I know Pearce bc I love reading Imaginative Conservative. Excellent articles!
I’m pretty sure I found Pearce through IC as well! Tony Esolen, too. Brad Birzer came from either there or Tom Woods’ podcasts. With all these Catholic guys in my head I’m surprised I’m not already speaking Latin. 😉
LOL! or at least they make you want to learn Latin.
Solzhenitsyn is a big favorite with me. I have the Gulag on my TBR pile. Some day I’ll get around to it. I also need to re read Day in the Life.
I’m just grateful to the CC for making me tackle it. Those three volumes were intimidating in the beginning!
The only thing I’ve read by him was his short essay, “Live Not By Lies.” It was unforgettable, though. I was just remembering today I also have a copy of Cancer Ward which I haven’t read yet.
That reminds me! There’s a book coming out that uses that essay title as its inspiration — “Live Not by Lives”, Rob Dreher. I don’t know if the topic (Christian dissidence) is one you’re interested in, but figured you’d appreciate the connection. 🙂
Now that you mention it… someone had recommend it to me and I’d already forgotten. 😆 I would absolutely be interested in that. Thanks for the heads up!
You’re welcome! …especially seeing as I mangled the title earlier. Glad you recognized what I meant, anyway. 😉
benjamin disraeli… i’ve read six or seven of his books and have some left to do: someday…
Points for the unexpected! I only know of him as a politician, not an author.
Vivian Grey (1826)
Popanilla (1828)
The Young Duke (1831)
Contarini Fleming (1832)
Ixion in Heaven (1832/3)
The Wondrous Tale of Alroy (1833)
The Rise of Iskander (1833)
The Infernal Marriage (1834)
A Year at Hartlebury, or The Election (with Sarah Disraeli, 1834)
Henrietta Temple (1837)
Venetia (1837)
Coningsby, or the New Generation (1844)
Sybil, or The Two Nations (1845)
Tancred, or the New Crusade (1847)
Lothair (1870)
Endymion (1880)
Falconet (unfinished 1881)
Good lord! Busy fellow.
vivian grey, contarini fleming, henrietta temple, sybil, lothair, tancred, endymion so far; have to get busy; i didn’t know i was so far behind. Vivian grey was the most startling one…