Back to the Classics Challenge 2017

The good folks at Books and Chocolate are again hosting the Back to the Classics Challenge for 2017.  The nice thing about this challenge is you don’t have to finish all twelve to be eligible for the prize – Yep a PRIZE and everything. I didn’t finish all 12 in 2016 (wrap up HERE), but I hope to do better this year.

***FANFARE***  My list (subject to change)

1.  A 19th Century Classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899. 

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, published 1881

2.  A 20th Century Classic – book published between 1900 and 1967 

Appointment in Samarra by John O’Hara, published 1934.  

I feel the need to point out that 1900 is actually the final year of the 19^th Century. 1901 is the first year of the 20^th Century. Just sayin

3.  A classic by a woman author.

Seven Gothic Tales by Isak Dinesen

Now this one is kind of funny. I tried to make most of these line up with my regularly scheduled 100 Greatest Novels Quest reading schedule – but as circumstances have it – I haven’t any woman authors coming up this year. I thought about trying to sneak Evelyn Waugh in, but in case you don’t know, Evelyn is a dude. Britts – go figure. Anyway, I couldn’t cheat, but to have a bit more fun with this category, I chose Isak Dinesen - probably sounds like a dude, and I’m sure that was the intention of Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke aka Karen Blixen, when she took it as her nom de plume.

4.  A classic in translation.

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Je vas lire en Anglais du Francais du cours.

5.  A classic published before 1800.

Tristram Shandy by Laurence Stearne, published 1759-1767

6.  An romance classic.

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

7.  A Gothic or horror classic. 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

 8.  A classic with a number in the title.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

(Originally I  chose 2001: A Space Odyssey, but it was published  in 1968 - and hence too recent to qualify for a classic, in this challenge)

9.  A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title. 

The Wings of the Dove by Henry James

10. A classic set in a place you'd like to visit.

A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh

This begins in Jolly Ole England, and moves to Brazil – which is the place I’d like to visit. England’s nice too, but I’ve already been there. Charming place, lovely people, all that.

11. An award-winning classic.

The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene

1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Literature – One of England’s oldest literary prizes

12. A Russian Classic. In observance of the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.

Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky

 Hope to read your list as you play along.