ancient xenologophilia?Episcopus wrote:My brother picked up a famous celebrated book, Great Expectations, wondering what all the fuss were about, read one page, threw it on the floor because it was just poor and I agree with him. I also think that Shakespeare wrote like a dog and I don't see why every one loves him so much. The foreign language fearings should silence themselves learn latin without crying and read a proper language. Though I may not agree with his opinions, Ovid's verse is of some form.
~E
I respect your 'calling them as I see them' with ancient literature. In time I suspect I will do the same. For now I can't understand them without English translation, and so I refrain from judgement.
Great Expectations is not in my opinion all the trash you claim, but reading one page won't show you that: it comes when Dickens writes from Wemmick's own perspective, far different from the reputation he has allotted himself at work. This I think is highly underestimated. That Dickens can do this well saves him from his purposely drawn out language. Of course at school the times determine whether or not you officially like him, but that has little to do with the real thing.
With Shakespeare it takes a while to divorce the hype of the man from the quality of his literature, but since reading Antony and Cleopatra I've grown to respect his remarkable ability, albeit high-flown and often flowery language.