Otterites! What’s doing?
Sounds like Francis has a challenge for Robert and me. Our favorite piece of classic literature, pre-1950. Fairly arbitrary cutoff, but I get the impulse. Let’s look over my shelf and see where I come down on this one.
I think Francis will be disappointed here but the answer has to be Orwell and 1984. It comes in just under the wire. I won’t go back into the reasons, I’ve talked Orwell in this space before. Just remember people, it was supposed to be a warning, not a how to guide.
Anyway, have to admit I believe Francis is more broadly read than I am. I’ve not read Dumas or similar folks. Probably after Orwell would be Conrad and Bradbury, and then I went through a big Graham Greene phase too. Read a little Huxley. Not much for Melville or Hawthorne, or even Fenimore Cooper. Dickens bores me tremendously. Very little Hemingway. I know Francis has consumed probably all those folks. I know Fenimore Cooper is a fave.
I think you are likely picking up on the vibe that I’m pretty 20th century in my reading, other than giving a pass to Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is 1899, so close enough. From there I’ve done some Wodehouse, Kafka, Jack London.
Tip of the hat to Francis, it speaks much to a person’s character and intellect to voraciously read from so many eras and styles. I just can’t keep up with him. He’s devoured Fleming, Cornwell and O’Brian, among many others. I’m big for Shaara, Clancy, Brad Thor and Gregory McDonald. Elmore Leonard is a fave too.
As discussed here and on air though, I’ve moved much more into non-fiction these days, interjecting a little Jeff Shaara only now and again. There’s just too much good history and biography out there. There are so many people to dive into. I still haven’t picked up anything on Alfred the Great, and now I want to look around for something on Kermit Roosevelt. Candice Millard has something on Churchill. Christopher Clark has a book on Wilhelm II. There’s more out there on Garfield. Don’t know how to make time for fiction with that list of fascinating figures that were real!
Hope this moves the needle for you Francis. Keep it going Robert.
