Really Old Classics Mini-Challenge Round-Up

Note: I occasionally accept review copies from the publisher. Posts written from review copies are labeled. All opinions are my own. Posts may contain affiliate links. I may receive compensation for any purchased items.

A number of people got some Really Old Classics read by the end of February. I’m sending a lucky winner a book of your choice. But first, here’s who participated in the first half of the Really Old Classics Challenge. I’ve formed it like a mini-blog carnival so you might get an idea for your next Really Old Classics read.

It’s All Greek to Me

Worthwhile Books enjoyed reading Aesop’s Fables, saying “not just for kids!”

A few people read Homer. I reviewed Fagles’ Iliad and loved it, and ChainReader also reviewed Fagles’ Iliad, saying it was a 4/5 enrichment factor.

Tuesday in Silhouette read the Fitzgerald and Chapman versions of The Odyssey at the same time, enjoying them both but for different reasons. (I, alas, am still working on Fagles’ Odyssey. My recent move did me in.)

I also reviewed the play Hippolytus by Euripides, which was my first experience with Euripides’ plays – and one I hope to repeat.

Roman Holiday

Tuesday in Silhouette visited Virgil’s Aeneid, but found the Knight prose translation to be “stiff cardboard.” So sorry!

Really Old English

The Curious Reader found Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory to be nearly impossible to finish, not just because it was 900 pages long but because it was in Old/Middle English. But finish it she did. Way to go, Jeska!

Tuesday in Silhouette was “pleasantly surprised” by the modernity, obscenity, and variety of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (Glaser trans.).

Becky at Becky’s Book Reviews (and Operation Actually Read Bible) loved reading Wycliffe’s New Testament.

Spanish Conquest

Becky at Becky’s Book Reviews made it through 1,200+ pages of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote (Putnam translation), saying “Did it live up to my expectations? Was it everything I wanted it to be? Yes. And then some.”

A Winner

Not counting my own, there were eight entries. I submitted them into a random integer generator. and the winner is……..

8. Becky of Becky’s Book Reviews

Congratulations! I have sent you an email. In addition to your address, let me know which book (any book, up to $15 not counting shipping) you’d like me to send you.

The Really Old Classics Challenge is half over, but that just means there are still five months for you to keep reading and reviewing – and linking to your reviews on this post. I hope that the reviews of the other challenge participants got you excited for your next “Really Old Classic.”

There may be another mini-challenge of some kind in the coming months, so watch for it!

Reviewed on March 3, 2009

About the author 

Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid is a homeschooling, stay-at-home mother seeking to make the journey of life-long learning fun by reading lots of good books. Rebecca Reads provides reviews of children's literature she has enjoyed with her children; nonfiction that enhances understanding of educational philosophies, history and more; and classical literature that Rebecca enjoys reading.

  • I love the round-up! Reading about what others reviewed makes me want to change my list again, but I’ll try to be good and stick with what I picked. They all just sound so good.

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