There’s a sentence in Henry James’ The Portrait of a Lady that reads “her uncle’s library was provided with a complete set of those authors which no gentleman’s collection should be without”.
Because I collected books even at a young age, and read them quite avidly , that sentence influenced me greatly. In my opinion, the question of which books compose one’s library is far from superficial; it reveals the type of person you are, the depths of your inner world, and the knowledge that you possess. Every book that I have read has left some impression upon me – has changed me to a certain extent – and so the ability to plan your future library is, in fact, the ability to plan yourself.
It was then that I decided to become a self-taught scholar – a well-educated individual, who is versed in the great works of literature, history, philosophy, science, and even theology. And so, the great challenge of building and reading through that fantasy library began. Alas, little did I comprehend what a long journey forming that library would be, and yet what a satisfying one. The eternal bard claims: et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius. Therefore, where should one begin but with the classics?
Through this blog, I intend to add another dimension to that journey. I will attempt to create thorough and detailed reviews of classical works and authors, delve into different elements and aspects of classic literature from various eras, and share my experiences from the most thought-provoking, artful, and archaic works that the world of books has to offer.