Classics

I was quite surprised to discover that I had in fact quite a few different tranlation but I have to say that this version translated by Stephen Mitchell is the best. It is modern but not too much - it is easy to read and immediately captivates you, without the struggle of 'do I understand this translation and what does it mean' bit. He allows you to enjoy the story that Homer has written in all its full glory with a friendly introduction to the book.

There are many versions of this classic book but I prefer this Oneworld edtion because the translation by Roger Clarke is quite magnificant. He draws you into the story from page one, and brings out the quite brilliant humour of Desidrius Erasmnus.

It is wonderful to see how Erasmus pokes fun at religion and authority in a very irreverant way - in fact this book was put on the Index of Forbidden books by the Council of Trent in 1995 - a full forty years after it was published!

'The course of love never did run smooth', if you're like me and had a boyfriend your parents hated, but you're adamant that you're going to see this relationship through then you'll relate to this Shakespeare novel. Now I'm not really a romance reader, I'm more of Troll Slayer kind of a gal, however, I was pleasantly surprised to pick up this book and keep on reading...with interest! ..read more

'Twelfth Night' Manga style, a truly inviting way to read Shakespeare. Never have I been able to understand, let alone particularly follow, Shakespeare's literature. If you're like me, you always struggled at school to understand the wit and mirth of Shakespeare's plays. The way the manga characters convey the emotional intent of the writing makes it so easy to undertstand characters. So as a result I found myself reading on and laughing at the characters and the cocktail of conniving schemes and mixed messages. And most importantly, I understanding it.

I shall have to admit, from the start, that I have never read the original novel - so can't really compare it. However, I can say that as a stand alone read I was fascinated by it. The story is deceptively simple, running alongside the Faust myths: Dorian Gray sells his soul after seeing a portrait of himself - he is so much in love with the portrait that he wishes that he could remain the same way forever.

I read this on holiday on the Isle of Wight a few years ago, and I found it to be the most enigmatic and enthralling book I've ever read. It doesn't give its answers easily - that's if there are any answers to be had at all- and it has a labyrinthine plot full of subtle mind-games

Dante's Rime published by Oneworld Classics is a poetry book that I did not expect to fall in love with! I find that I keep picking it up to read a poem or two and then, to reflect on what I have just read, with the poems being quite brilliantly translated by J.G. Nichols and Anthony Mortimer.

They have subtly different styles that mesh very well together - an example of one of Dante's poems is XLI 'Dante to Cino' on page 125 which starts

'Since here nobody cares to speak about....' 

I first read Kidnapped while at school and since then have read it several times. It is better read with a map of Scotland to hand. It is set in 1751 and, on the surface, is a tale of the adventures of the young David Balfour, who is kidnapped while seeking to claim his inheritance and taken aboard a ship bound for the Carolinas. The ship founders off the west coast of Scotland and David has to make his way back to Edinburgh. This is during the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion.

OTHELLO - this is a catchy tale of love won, love lost and a manipulator being out manipulated. Why is this called Othello? He is just the poor dupe who never stood a chance. Surely this should be called Iago? After all, he is the main character sitting in the centre of the web, spinning lies and drawing the other characters into his plans for revenge. There he wraps them up in their own desires and fears until he causes the death of not only his enemy but the two innocent women, his own wife and Othello's.

"My only merit must lie in the faithfulness with which I represent to you the humble experience of an ordinary fellow mortal"