Great Books
Author | : David Denby |
Publisher | : Simon and Schuster |
Total Pages | : 496 |
Release | : 2013-06-18 |
ISBN-10 | : 9781439127155 |
ISBN-13 | : 1439127158 |
Rating | : 4/5 (55 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER At the age of forty-eight, writer and film critic David Denby returned to Columbia University and re-enrolled in two core courses in Western civilization to confront the literary and philosophical masterpieces -- the "great books" -- that are now at the heart of the culture wars. In Great Books, he leads us on a glorious tour, a rediscovery and celebration of such authors as Homer and Boccaccio, Locke and Nietzsche. Conrad and Woolf. The resulting personal odyssey is an engaging blend of self-discovery, cultural commentary, reporting, criticism, and autobiography -- an inspiration for anyone in love with the written word.