Back to the Classics 2021 – My list

I’ve signed up for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2021 which is hosted by Karen @ Books and Chocolate. It’s a year long project so should be easy to complete!

Below are the categories for 2021 with my choice in each category in bold. A few of my choices also appear in my Classics Club list but I believe that is allowed.

1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899
Kenilworth by Sir Walter Scott

2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written by 1971 and posthumously published.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin

3. A classic by a woman author.
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

4. A classic in translation, meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer.
Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author.
The Rover by Aphra Behn

6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read.
The Deer Park by Norman Mailer

7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author — a new book by an author whose works you have already read.
The Masterpiece by Emile Zola

8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title. The animal can be real or metaphorical. (i.e., To Kill a Mockingbird).
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

9. A children’s classic.
Pinocchio

10. A humorous or satirical classic.
Jill the Reckless by P.G. Wodehouse

11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction). It can be a travelogue or a classic in which the main character travels or has an adventure.
The Illustrated Journeys of Celia Fiennes 1685-c1712

12. A classic play. Plays will only count in this category.
Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare

Obviously I intend to read more classics than this over the year, particularly Anthony Trollope. My project to read everything by him – and that’s a lot – has come to a halt this year for some reason.

Have you read any of these books?

10 thoughts on “Back to the Classics 2021 – My list

  1. This looks an interesting challenge – and I was just thinking I’d have a challenge free year next year! But maybe I’ll try this one. I haven’t read any of your books, except for The Well of Loneliness. I read it in my teens when I borrowed it from the library not knowing anything about it and now I can barely remember it. I think it was the title that appealed to me then – it still does actually. I’ll look out for your review of it.

    • Margaret,
      I bought a copy of it in Edinburgh, I was going to say recently but it must have been back in February, the last time I was there! I hope you join in.

  2. I’ll be joining this challenge in 2022, too many challenges next year already. I love your choices, haven’t read any of these books so I’ll be delighted to read your reviews đŸ™‚

  3. Such great books on your list, great variety! I’ve read Death in Venice and The Maltese Falcon, though both were years ago and I hardly remember them. I have read a lot of Zola and that was a good one — I love reading about art and artists. It’s loosely based on the life of Cezanne, Zola’s childhood friend, and apparently after the book was published Cezanne never spoke to Zola again! Ouch!

    And I too want to finish all of Trollope, though I’ve only read two so far this year, The American Senator which was a reread, and John Caldigate, which I liked very much. I still might try to squeeze in one of the shorter ones by the end of the year, maybe Harry Heathcote of Gangoil. Thanks again for signing up for the challenge, I look forward to your posts!

    • Karen K.
      I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I don’t think I’ll be signing up for any others next year, I’ll just concentrate on those ones. It’s good to know that you enjoyed The Maltese Falcon and the Zola.

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