2009 Sign-up
The Really Old Classics Challenge is a four-month reading challenge, running from November 2009 to February 2010. The purpose is to celebrate really old works, particularly those written before 1600.
We love the really old classics we’ve read and we’d love to encourage others to read them too. We hope that your experience will be a good one, and that you’ll decide to give other really old classics a try. Maybe seeing what others read can help you decide which to read next!
What is a really old classic? We’re defining it as pre-1600 A.D. Obviously, most translations have been done after that date. Nevertheless, if the original work was written before 1600, it counts for this challenge.
Successfully finishing the challenge is really easy, since it requires you to read one work. There is extra credit, if you are feeling ambitious.
To join the Really Old Challenge, commit to read at least one work written before 1600 A.D. between November 2009 and February 28, 2010.
Optional “Classicist” certification: Become a “classicist” by reading four works written before 1600 A.D. between November 2009 and February 28, 2010.
Extra credit: For a little extra fun, also read a retelling of a classic work. It could be a retelling of the work you read for the first part of the challenge or it could a retelling of any other classic work.
Want to join? Sign up in the comments on this page. Let us know if you think you’ll be doing the extra credit.
If you have a blog, let us know. If you want, go pick up a button. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you can get updates and ideas for what to read — and to see what everyone else is reading! If you need ideas, check out the Reading Ideas category. We’ll post lists of ideas periodically.
If you review your choice(s) on a blog, leave a link on the reviews page. We’ll be doing periodic rounds-ups to share what everyone has said about their choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Audiobooks count.
- Cross-overs with other challenges count.
- You do not need a blog to participate, but if you do post about it on your blog, we’d love to hear about it.
- You don’t need to decide what you’ll read before hand.
- Decide for yourself which works count. You could even read excerpts or abridgments (although of course we suggest reading the entire work). Our guideline is pre-1600 A.D.
Any other questions? Let us know. We hope you enjoy what ever books you decide to read.
Heather J. at Age 30+ A Lifetime of Books (@age30books)
Rebecca at Rebecca Reads (@rebeccarreid)
List Of 2009 Participants:
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AmyO (no blog)
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Annelies (no blog)
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Barbara S (no blog)
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ccqdesigns (no blog)
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lissysiddal (no blog)
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My Little Corner
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Rachel D. (no blog)
Really Old Classics Challenge 
I’ll join in the fun. I’m just about to start the Epic of Gilgamesh which I think qualifies. I’ll put up a post about it and come back and link.
I’ll Join. I’m sure I have something around here pre 1600 we inherited. Once I figure it out, I’ll post something and link. Look forward to more ideas from you all.
I’m in! My definite is The Decameron, and I’ll probably end up going to the Classicist certification.
Right now, the others that catch my eye are The Romances of Chrétien de Troyes, Arabian Nights, and maybe The Pillow Book or Book of Genji. Or maybe some Sappho. Obviously, haven’t quite made up my mind for the cert. bit. 😉
I’m in, hurrah! I’m going to be reading the Faerie Queene, and Silence, and probably Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the Gateless Gate (they don’t have to be Western classics, right?).
Ms Eva – if you’re going to read Sappho, you HAVE to read ‘If Not, Winter’ by Anne Carson, it is withouit a doubt one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever had in my life, and I totally love it and am proselytizing it, so sorry for being pushy :*) (blush).
I stocked up on more really-old-classics than I read during your previous challenge, Rebecca, so I intend to read at least one book during this period anyway. Not sure what I’ll read yet though 🙂
Well, at first glance I thought, wow, that’s very difficult to find books before 1600 A D…
Then I remembered the ancient novels like The Golden Ass by Apuleius or the Satyricon by Petronius, etc, etc, etc….
And of course some excellent works form the MIddle Ages…
But I always wanted to read the Heptameron by Marguerite of Navarre. And it’s time to read some works by Martin Luther again.
So it looks like I can find “at least one work”.
I’ll join!
I’m definitely IN !
I think I may start with one of Sophocle’s plays, I never got to read them all, so here’s a good opportunity to do so. Not 100% sure yet though, we’ll see !
I’m also in and may be for the Classicist challenge, but I’m going to pace myself with one. 🙂
I’m in! Not sure what I want to read yet…but I’ll definitely read at least one.
I will for sure sign up to read at least one work-I might read more -I looked at my books-the only old work I own that I have not already read (I feel like reading something new for me) is Richard III-writen according to most all editors in or about 1591-if I find in a book store an older Japanese work that interests me I will read that-
Jason, It definitely does NOT need to be a Western Classic. That is just what the lists I find tend toward!
I’m so glad to see so much interest!
Ok Jason-that one’s in my library, so I’ve put it on my list! 🙂 (And I’m all about pushy book recs, hehe.)
I’ll probably join this one, as I can use something from my list for the Pre-printing press challenge.
My post is up!
http://readinginthenorth.blogspot.com/2009/10/really-old-classics-challenge.html
That’s more or less what I was thinking too, J.T. Guess I’m in.
My introductory post: http://allbookedup-elena.blogspot.com/2009/10/really-old-classics-challenge.html
This sounds fun. I’m in!
http://leabhran.blogspot.com/2009/10/really-old-classics-challenge-1112009.html
Sounds like fun, I’m in!
I have five books that would qualify on my TBR list currently and am already reading my sons Aesop’s Fables as part of my Fall Into Reading, so I’m already getting in the mood. 😉
I’ll just set the goal for one, but if the timing works out well I’ll certainly try for more though I don’t see myself making four. I’ll have to look around for some more retellings, sounds like a fun addition!
This challenge is so exciting. I just completed several books from t he early 19th century so it will be very interesting to read books from the 16th century. Many of the books on the list I have already read, but I am still in for at least one book. I want to read the The Pillow Book.
Count me in too. I’ll read Wolfram von Eschenbach’s “Parzival”, written somewhere around 1225, recently retranslated and published by Oxford University Press.
Oh, I’m in! I’ll read the Canterbury Tales. Probably not in Middle English, though.
As for the extra credit, would a current-day novelization of the old story work?
Yes, Amy — for extra credit, anything written after 1600 AD that retells a “really old classic.” We won’t police that at all 🙂 (and we’re working on a list of reading ideas!)
We’re excited to see so much excitement! Welcome to the challenge, one and all!
Great challenge! This one will get me out of my comfort zone, but I am going to give it a go.
http://dogearedbooksonline.blogspot.com/2009/10/really-old-classics-challenge-november.html
Perfect. Then I could read Karen Maitland’s Company of Liars–a retelling of the Canterbury Tales–and really be able to look at how they work together. How fun!
I’ll join. I ‘ve always wanted to read Dante’s Inferno, and never have, so it’s perfect timing.
I am up for this challenge. What a great idea!
Sign me up and yes, I think I will do extra credit. I have to go check at our library for books that are available!
I will sign up, will read Sophocles Theban Plays, being meaning to re-read this for a while. Will also go looking for a few other titles to add. Thanks for the cool challenge. I will post on it tonight.
I have posted on the Genteel Arsenal http://thegenteelarsenal.blogspot.com/
looking forward to starting this challenge, thanks for running it.
[…] Join the Challenge! […]
I’m in. I have a pile of classic books in the TBR, one of which is Homer’s Odyssey. I’m sure I can work that in (or something else off your reading list) before the end of February!
Here’s my pool:
Oh what a great idea! As an armchair historian I will be happy to join in. As to what I will read, I will finally pull down some books that I have but for one reason or another have not yet read or read them over 20 years ago:
Ywain the Knight of the Lion by Chretien de Troys
Sir Gawain and Green Knight
a collection of medieval tales from Chaucer to the Death of Roland and finally I will read a modern readers guide to Danta’s Inferno.
Right I’m 67 and I love reading so this is good. I’ve done Homer, Virgil, Herodotus, Thucydides, Gilgamesh, the Bible (King James), Chaucer, The Decameron and 1001 Nights. I’d rather see than read plays. I struggle with nordic epics – except Beowulf (enjoyed the film). I think it’ll have to be Dante or could I put Proust in a time machine and fake his dates? Any more suggestions? Not so I can show off – ridiculous at my age and in this company – but so it’ll change me. I want a ripping yarn – like the Odyssey or the Iliad.
You got me, Rebecca, I am joining the challenge!
I picked up a copy of The Iliad at the library’s book sale last weekend so I am ready to go…..
You can definitely count me in too even though I’m a little late to the game. The book I’ll be reading is Dante’s The Divine Comedy. I’ve always wanted to read it and it will throw me out of my comfort zone because it’s a poem – and I typically don’t do poetry. That and I haven’t read a great many of the classics.
I’ll be blogging this on my own blog: Imperfect Clarity at http://www.imperfectclarity.net/ as well as my thoughts on Dante and his work. I feel like I’m starting with something hard so I might as well try to learn something from it 🙂
[…] This is one of the challenges that I am looking forward to: the Really Old Classics Challenge. […]
Hi I would love to join the challenge! I’m not sure what I’ll be reading, I’m sure I’ll find one somewhere.. =)
Will you repeat the challenge? I’d like to tackle this one but have a huge list to read already.
I would like to join! I’m currently reading ‘Ragtime’ which of course doesn’t qualify, but the ‘Mabinogion’ is the next book on the pile.
Hi Simon, actually, it sounds like you’ve read more than me! I’m hosting the challenge to get motivated to read more. Maybe you could try a Chinese or Japanese really old classic. I just post about some of them last week.
Gina, I intend to do it again next winter, but I don’t know where I’ll be at the time! If you do get the chance, feel free to join in if and when you can this winter!
The link to the Chinese/Japanese classics didn’t work for me. Can you help again? Simon
Simon, it’s on the main page of this blog.
I’m excited by this one, but came upon it late, so I’m only going for one.
http://scoffeepie.livejournal.com/470216.html
I’m joining ( a bit late but oh well).
Hi
My review of the 12th-century Master Tung’s Western Chamber Romance is at
http://buffalosavage.xanga.com/717917756/twelfth-century-masterpiece/
I will go for Classicist….
Rebecca and Heather,
I’m late, but I’d like to join if you’re still accepting challengers! Will link to my Petronius review on the reviews page and commit to reading at least one other work before the end of February. Thanks!
Sara
Joining late…I’ve just start Aristotle’s The Politics.