One Hundred Best Books by John Cowper Powys

Suggest and discuss books to read (all languages welcome!)
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Ticktockman
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Post by Ticktockman »

OK, this fellow sounds like a bit of an eccentric:

The English degenerate

He was a writer of tragic grandeur and everyday comedy, of sexual perversion and cups of tea. He wrote poems, essays, epic fictions, letters and autobiography. Words poured out of him - and he never reread any of them. Margaret Drabble reflects on the paradoxical and perplexing work of John Cowper Powys

http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1842437,00.html

but that might make this list all the more interesting, either to record or to draw from.
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12914


PREFACE


This selection of "One hundred best books" is made after a different
method and with a different purpose from the selections already in
existence. Those apparently are designed to stuff the minds of young
persons with an accumulation of "standard learning" calculated to
alarm and discourage the boldest. The following list is frankly
subjective in its choice; being indeed the selection of one
individual, wandering at large and in freedom through these "realms of
gold."

The compiler holds the view that in expressing his own predilection,
he is also supplying the need of kindred minds; minds that read purely
for the pleasure of reading, and have no sinister wish to transform
themselves by that process into what are called "cultivated persons."
The compiler feels that any one who succeeds in reading, with
reasonable receptivity, the books in this list, must become, at the
end, a person with whom it would be a delight to share that most
classic of all pleasurable arts--the art of intelligent conversation.
[color=darkblue][size=92][i]Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.[/i] -- Henry James[/size][/color]
Carolin
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Post by Carolin »

i think this is worth looking into once again - did we manage to record the majority of the 100 best books ever or do we still need to work :)
Carolin
Carolin
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Post by Carolin »

1. THE PSALMS OF DAVID.
http://librivox.org/psalms-of-david-by-isaac-watts/

2. HOMER. THE ODYSSEY. Butcher and Lang's Prose Translation.
http://librivox.org/the-odyssey-by-homer/

3. THE BACCHANALS. THE BACCHÆ OF EURIPIDES. Translated by Professor Gilbert Murray.
http://librivox.org/the-bacchae-by-euripides/

4. HORACE. Any selection in Latin of The Odes of Horace and complete prose translation published by Macmillan.
http://librivox.org/the-odes-and-carmen-saeculare-by-quintus-horatius-flaccus-horace/

5. CATULLUS. Any Latin edition and the prose translation published by Macmillan bound up with Tibullus.

6. DANTE 'S DIVINE COMEDY. Best edition the "Temple Classics," in three small volumes, with the Italian original and English prose translation on opposite pages.
http://librivox.org/the-divine-comedy-by-dante-alighieri/

7. RABELAIS. The English translation with the Doré illustrations.
http://librivox.org/gargantua-and-pantagruel-by-francois-rabelais/

8. CANDIDE. Any French edition or English translation.
http://librivox.org/candide-by-voltaire/

9. SHAKESPEARE. In the Temple edition.
https://librivox.org/author/37

10. MILTON. Any edition.
https://librivox.org/author/175

11. SIR THOMAS BROWNE. RELIGIO MEDICI AND URN BURIAL. In the "Scott Library" Series.
http://librivox.org/religio-medici-and-hydriotaphia-by-thomas-browne/

12. GOETHE. FAUST, translated in English Poetry by Bayard Taylor. WILHELM MEISTER, in Carlyle's translation. GOETHE'S CONVERSATIONS WITH ECKERMAN, translation in Bohn's Library.
http://librivox.org/faust-part-1-by-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/

15. NIETZSCHE. ZARATHUSTRA, THE JOYFUL WISDOM, AND ECCE HOMO are all translated in the English edition of Foulis and published in America by Macmillan. Lichtenberger's exposition of his doctrines is in the same series. The most artistic life of him is by Daniel Halêvy, translated from the French.
http://librivox.org/thus-spake-zarathustra-by-friedrich-nietzsche/
http://librivox.org/the-joyful-wisdom-by-friedrich-nietzsche/
http://librivox.org/ecce-homo-by-friedrich-nietzsche/

18. HEINE. HEINE'S PROSE WORKS WITH THE "CONFESSIONS," translated in the "Scott Library." A good short life of Heine in the "Great Writers" Series.

19. SUDERMANN. SONG OF SONGS. Translation into English published by Huebsch of New York.

20. HAUPTMANN. THE FOOL IN CHRIST, translation published by Huebsch, New York.

21. IBSEN. Any edition of Ibsen containing the WILD DUCK.
http://librivox.org/the-wild-duck-by-henrik-ibsen/

22. STRINDBERG. THE CONFESSIONS OF A FOOL.

23. EMERSON. Routledge's complete works of Emerson, or any other edition containing everything in one volume.
https://librivox.org/author/1159

24. WALT WHITMAN. The complete unexpurgated edition of all his poems, with his prose works and Mr. Traubel's books about him as a further elucidation.
https://librivox.org/author/588

25. EDGAR LEE MASTERS. SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, published by Macmillan.
http://librivox.org/spoon-river-anthology-by-edgar-lee-masters/

26. THEODORE DREISER. THE TITAN.
http://librivox.org/the-titan-by-theodore-dreiser/

27. CERVANTES. DON QUIXOTE. In any translation except those vulgarized by eighteenth century taste.
http://librivox.org/don-quixote-vol-1-by-miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/

28. VICTOR HUGO. THE TOILERS OF THE SEA. In any translation.
http://librivox.org/toilers-of-the-sea-by-victor-hugo/

29. BALZAC. LOST ILLUSIONS. COUSIN BETTE. PÉRE GORIOT. HUMAN COMEDY, in any translation. Saintsbury's is as good as any.
http://librivox.org/lost-illusions-a-distinguished-provincial-at-paris-by-honore-de-balzac/
http://librivox.org/cousin-betty-by-honore-de-balzac/
http://librivox.org/father-goriot-by-honore-balzac/

32. GUY DE MAUPASSANT. LE MAISON TELLIER. MADAME TELLIER'S ESTABLISHMENT. Any translation, preferably not one bound in paper or in an "Edition de Luxe."

33. STENDHAL (HENRI BEYLE). LE ROUGE ET LE NOIR. Either the original French or any translation, if possible with a preface; for the life of Stendhal is of extraordinary interest.
http://librivox.org/the-red-and-the-black-volume-i-by-stendhal/

34. ANATOLE FRANCE. L'ORME DE MAIL. L'ABBE JEROME COIGNARD. LE LIVRE DE MON AMI. Either in French or the authorized English translation.

37. REMY DE GOURMONT. UNE NUIT AU LUXEMBOURG. Translated with a preface by Arthur Ransome, published by Luce, Boston.

38. PAUL BOURGET. LE DISCIPLE.

39. Romain Rolland. Jean Christophe. Translated by Gilbert Cannan.
https://librivox.org/jean-christophe-vol1-by-romain-rolland/

40. GABRIELE D'ANNUNZIO. THE FLAME OF LIFE. THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH. Translated by Arthur Hornblow.

42. Dostoyevsky. Crime and Punishment. The Idiot. The Brothers Karamazov. THE INSULTED AND INJURED. The Possessed. Translated by Constance Garnett and published by Macmillan. Other translations in Everyman's Library.
http://librivox.org/crime-and-punishment-by-fyodor-dostoyevsky/
http://librivox.org/the-idiot-by-fyodor-dostoyevsky-part-01-and-02-translated-by-eva-m-martin/
http://librivox.org/the-brothers-karamazov-by-fyodor-dostoyevsky/
http://librivox.org/the-possessed-by-fyodor-dostoyevsky/

47. Turgeniev. Virgin Soil. A Sportsman's Sketches. Translated by Constance Garnett. And "Lisa" in Everyman's Library.
http://librivox.org/a-sportsmans-sketches-by-ivan-turgenev/
https://librivox.org/virgin-soil-volume-1-by-ivan-turgenev/
https://librivox.org/virgin-soil-vol2-ivan-turgenev/

50. GORKI—FOMA GORDYEFF. Translation published by Scribners.

51. Tchekof. The Seagull. Tchekoff's plays and short stories are published by Scribners in admirable translations.
http://librivox.org/the-seagull-by-anton-chekhov-trans-fell/

52. ARTZIBASHEFF. SANINE, translation published by Huebsch.

53. STERNE—TRISTRAM SHANDY.
http://librivox.org/tristram-shandy-vol-1-by-laurence-sterne/

54. JONATHAN SWIFT. TALE OF A TUB.
http://librivox.org/a-tale-of-a-tub-by-jonathan-swift/

55. CHARLES LAMB. THE ESSAYS OF ELIA.
http://librivox.org/the-last-essays-of-elia-by-charles-lamb/

56. Sir Walter Scott. Guy Mannering. Bride of Lammermoor. Heart of Midlothian.
https://librivox.org/guy-mannering-or-the-astrologer-by-sir-walter-scott/
https://librivox.org/the-bride-of-lammermoor-by-sir-walter-scott/
https://librivox.org/the-heart-of-mid-lothian-by-sir-walter-scott/

59. THACKERAY. THE HISTORY OF HENRY ESMOND.
http://librivox.org/henry-esmond-by-william-makepeace-thackeray/

60. CHARLES DICKENS. GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
http://librivox.org/great-expectations-by-charles-dickens/

61. JANE AUSTEN. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
http://librivox.org/pride-and-prejudice-by-jane-austen/

62. EMILY BRONTË. WÜTHERING HEIGHTS.
http://librivox.org/wuthering-heights-by-emily-bronte/

63. GEORGE MEREDITH. HARRY RICHMOND.

64. HENRY JAMES. THE AMBASSADORS. THE TRAGIC MUSE. THE SOFT SIDE. THE BETTER SORT. THE WINGS OF THE DOVE. THE GOLDEN BOWL.
http://librivox.org/the-ambassadors-by-henry-james/
http://librivox.org/the-tragic-muse-by-henry-james/
http://librivox.org/the-wings-of-the-dove-by-henry-james/
http://librivox.org/the-golden-bowl-by-henry-james/

70. THOMAS HARDY. TESS OF THE D'URBEVILLES. THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE. THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD. WESSEX POEMS.
http://librivox.org/tess-of-the-durbervilles/
http://librivox.org/return-of-the-native-by-thomas-hardy/
http://librivox.org/the-mayor-of-casterbridge-by-thomas-hardy/
http://librivox.org/far-from-the-madding-crowd-by-thomas-hardy/
http://librivox.org/wessex-poems-by-thomas-hardy/

75. JOSEPH CONRAD. CHANCE. LORD JIM. VICTORY. YOUTH. ALMAYER'S FOLLY. Published by Doubleday Page & Co. with a critical monograph, so admirably written (it is given gratis) by Wilson Follet that one longs to see more criticism from such an accomplished hand.
http://librivox.org/chance-by-joseph-conrad/
http://librivox.org/lord-jim-by-joseph-conrad
http://librivox.org/victory-an-island-tale-by-joseph-conrad/
http://librivox.org/youth-a-narrative-by-joseph-conrad/
http://librivox.org/almayers-folly-by-joseph-conrad-2/

80. WALTER PATER. MARIUS THE EPICUREAN. STUDIES IN THE RENAISSANCE. IMAGINARY PORTRAITS. PLATO AND PLATONISM. GASTON DE LATOUR.
http://librivox.org/marius-the-epicurean-vol-1-by-walter-pater/

85. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. MAN AND SUPERMAN.

86. GILBERT K. CHESTERTON. ORTHODOXY.
http://librivox.org/orthodoxy-by-gk-chesterton/

87. OSCAR WILDE. INTENTIONS. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. DE PROFUNDIS.
http://librivox.org/the-importance-of-being-earnest-by-oscar-wilde/
http://librivox.org/de-profundis-by-oscar-wilde/

90. RUDYARD KIPLING. THE JUNGLE BOOK.
http://librivox.org/the-jungle-book-by-rudyard-kipling/

91. CHARLES L. DODGSON. ALICE IN WONDERLAND. The edition with the original illustrations.
http://librivox.org/alices-adventures-in-wonderland-by-lewis-carroll/

92. JOHN GALSWORTHY. THE COUNTRY HOUSE. THE MAN OF PROPERTY. FRATERNITY.
https://librivox.org/the-country-house-by-john-galsworthy/
http://librivox.org/man-of-property-by-john-galsworthy/
http://librivox.org/fraternity-by-john-galsworthy/

95. W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM. OF HUMAN BONDAGE.
http://librivox.org/of-human-bondage-by-somerset-maugham/

96. GILBERT CANNAN. ROUND THE CORNER.

97. VINCENT O'SULLIVAN. THE GOOD GIRL. Published by Dutton & Co.

98. OLIVER ONIONS. THE STORY OF LOUIE.


99. ARNOLD BENNETT. CLAYHANGER.
http://librivox.org/clayhanger-by-arnold-bennett/

100. OXFORD BOOK OF ENGLISH VERSE.
Carolin
adonis
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Post by adonis »

I looked at this and picked up The Last Essays of Elia to record. Sonia might (might) consider The Toilers of the Sea. She did another little known Hugo, Hans of Iceland, which has proved fantastically popular. Is that Repent Harlequin! said the Tick Tock Man. Or not?

Tony A.
kathrinee
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Post by kathrinee »

I recognized A Sportsman's Sketches by Turgeniev (item 47) (spelled Turgenev in our catalog) https://librivox.org/a-sportsmans-sketches-by-ivan-turgenev/ :) Thank you for compiling this list! Maybe we can get a few more into the catalog :9:
Kathrine
adonis
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Post by adonis »

I see that Toilers of the Sea has already been done as a Solo, which puts a different complexion on the case.

T.
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