I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed Read the Classics this year - it’s been so interesting to read such a selection of books with all the connections between them. I’m looking forward to carrying on next year and would love the excitement of the books arriving every month.
Thanks so much Emma! I really appreciate your kind note. And that's great! Completely optional, of course - but I will be sharing details of the Hatchards Subscription as soon as it's set up.
Thank you, Henry, for inspiration and good motivation to read books that have been languishing on a shelf for years (decades in some cases)! It has been, and will continue to be, great to be a part of the read-alongs for everyone's thoughts and ideas.
I'm not sure if this is allowed, but could I put in a plea for one of the 2026 year-long contenders to be Boswell's 'Life of Johnson'...?
Thank you for the update and all the work you put in to make this stack so inspiring. I’m reading great books that I would never select for myself and I am all the better for it. I’m in the US and great reads are getting me through dark times. Books are my drug of choice. I understand that you can’t film and post the discussions happening at the bookshop, but any summary you post here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the day with Mrs. Dalloway. Loved the virtual tour.
I have to cancel all my paid Substack subscriptions. Social security in the US is not enough. I will continue as unpaid. This is a terrific community led by a happy Henry. Thank you. Have only read the bug book by Kafka, it creeped me out and I never tried any of his books again. AS long as there are no giant bugs, I will carry on!
Looking forward to this. I just read the first pages of the Muir and Parry versions and, perhaps through familiarity, slightly preferred the first (apparently she did virtually all their translations but went along with the dual credit). The Parry seems a bit more word-by-word, with some sentences feeling slightly Germanically constructed, but there are details that Muir missed out (different source texts?) such as the landlady’s name, and I’m sure the differences will be greater further in. Whatever, it’ll be interesting to get into the different rhythms of the Parry.
Thanks John - it will be fascinating to discuss different translations as we go through. The Muirs published their translation in 1937 and Parry published his almost 60 years later (1994) so there may well have been further manuscript research and revelations in the meantime. I’ve also heard that Willa did most of the translation!
A question please on the subscription model next year. … Will we know the full year’s books ahead of the year or will we only know month by month? Thanks Lynn
Of course! If you’d like to come to the book group, you just need to reserve a ticket: https://www.hatchards.co.uk/events/the-classics-book-club-with-henry-eliot-in-october They cost £5 with a free Hatchards Reward Card. And have a look who translated your edition - it should be on the title page. Ideally it will be the Idris Parry translation – but any will be fine. If it’s a different translation we can discuss the variations!
I believe so! I will share more information as soon as I have it. And thank you so much for mentioning the Watch Alongs! I have decided to give those a rest for the time being, because I wasn't aware anyone was watching with me (!) but if you enjoyed them, do let me know.
Thank you for all your work! I've enjoyed all the reads enormously. Re: watch alongs, I was never able to watch at the same time due to time difference but I enjoyed all of the suggestions and I'd read all the comments later. (Although I was unable to stream Brazil, I found the 35mm Directors Cut playing at Film Forum which ended up being a summer highlight!)
I find the classics very easily in the US and am able to get them from my library and download them to my iPad. For The Summer Book, I googled it and was able to get a free copy online and I’m and enjoying it so much. I decided to become a paid subscriber because Henry leads us so well and his choices are books I of course had heard about but never read. I have streamlined my substack subscriptions and basically, there are so many books, too little time but the easy reading schedules here allows us to become wider read!
Hi, Lesley. I hope you don't mind if I give my perspective. I agree with you that a paid subscription model can be dear at any price. I've spent the last few months winnowing my subscriptions to Substack creators, streaming services, and online versions of newspapers and magazines. Some took up too much time for too much money. Others took up too little time -- I didn't take advantage of what I'd subscribed to.
I enjoyed Simon Haisell's War and Peace slow read last year, so I joined three Substack read-along book clubs this year. I chose Henry and two others because of the books they planned to read. Henry is the only one I've stuck with. Henry is a writer, and it matters.
I'm glad you spoke up, Lesley. I'm an outspoken activist. I admire others who speak up. And I'm glad you offered to make the subscription work for Lesley, Henry.
Mostly, I'm glad to get so much value from my subscription to Read the Classics.
When I came onto Substack it was for Phil Christman, who has this energetic way of writing I love. He is a teacher and does good work teaching incarcerated Americans to write. He's inspiring. I eventually became a paid subscriber. I read more and more Substack writers! Many of whom have solid knowledge about art and philosophy. I feel I am overwhelmed by all the great columns I subscribe to, (unpaid). I also pay for Hanif Kureishi's column because it's hard for him to write and he needs to pay his carers, but also he was nice to me when I was young, and replied to my letters. I also get the Times and the New Yorker and Private Eye! So you see it's all gone mad and I can't do enough reading! With Henry I read Anna Karenina, the old Curiosity Shop and Mrs Dalloway and Robinson Crusoe. I'm so enjoying it. But I always knew it was too good to be true and he couldn't keep doing it for no pay. I just need to think what to do. I do fancy coming to London for the book group.
Thanks Lesley - I hope not! I've tried to set a price that feels fair, but if it's too much at the moment, please just let me know and I'll gift you a free subscription.
I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed Read the Classics this year - it’s been so interesting to read such a selection of books with all the connections between them. I’m looking forward to carrying on next year and would love the excitement of the books arriving every month.
Thanks so much Emma! I really appreciate your kind note. And that's great! Completely optional, of course - but I will be sharing details of the Hatchards Subscription as soon as it's set up.
Thank you, Henry, for inspiration and good motivation to read books that have been languishing on a shelf for years (decades in some cases)! It has been, and will continue to be, great to be a part of the read-alongs for everyone's thoughts and ideas.
I'm not sure if this is allowed, but could I put in a plea for one of the 2026 year-long contenders to be Boswell's 'Life of Johnson'...?
Thank you so much! It’s such a pleasure. And great thought about Boswell’s Life of Johnson – I’ll certainly add that to the shortlist!
Thank you for the update and all the work you put in to make this stack so inspiring. I’m reading great books that I would never select for myself and I am all the better for it. I’m in the US and great reads are getting me through dark times. Books are my drug of choice. I understand that you can’t film and post the discussions happening at the bookshop, but any summary you post here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the day with Mrs. Dalloway. Loved the virtual tour.
That's so lovely to hear - thank you Kathleen. I really appreciate it!
I have to cancel all my paid Substack subscriptions. Social security in the US is not enough. I will continue as unpaid. This is a terrific community led by a happy Henry. Thank you. Have only read the bug book by Kafka, it creeped me out and I never tried any of his books again. AS long as there are no giant bugs, I will carry on!
Thanks Paula – thank you for the lovely comment.
Looking forward to this. I just read the first pages of the Muir and Parry versions and, perhaps through familiarity, slightly preferred the first (apparently she did virtually all their translations but went along with the dual credit). The Parry seems a bit more word-by-word, with some sentences feeling slightly Germanically constructed, but there are details that Muir missed out (different source texts?) such as the landlady’s name, and I’m sure the differences will be greater further in. Whatever, it’ll be interesting to get into the different rhythms of the Parry.
Thanks John - it will be fascinating to discuss different translations as we go through. The Muirs published their translation in 1937 and Parry published his almost 60 years later (1994) so there may well have been further manuscript research and revelations in the meantime. I’ve also heard that Willa did most of the translation!
Hi Henry,
A question please on the subscription model next year. … Will we know the full year’s books ahead of the year or will we only know month by month? Thanks Lynn
Great question - I'm just working out the details, but I'll let you know asap!
Hi Henry, any update on what will be on the list going forward on the subscription model?
Thanks so much for the nudge Lynn - yes! I’m going to keep the next six months of read-alongs updated on the about page: https://henryeliot.substack.com/about#§how-do-the-read-alongs-work You can see the next six months up there already!
If I don't buy the book from Hatchards can I still go to the book group? I have a copy of The Trial. It's the light green Penguin. Is that O K?
Of course! If you’d like to come to the book group, you just need to reserve a ticket: https://www.hatchards.co.uk/events/the-classics-book-club-with-henry-eliot-in-october They cost £5 with a free Hatchards Reward Card. And have a look who translated your edition - it should be on the title page. Ideally it will be the Idris Parry translation – but any will be fine. If it’s a different translation we can discuss the variations!
Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir. I bought it when I was at university and I have nevr read it!!
Sounds exciting! Will the books be available to be shipped to those of us outside the UK? Also what will happen to the Watch Alongs? Thank you!
I believe so! I will share more information as soon as I have it. And thank you so much for mentioning the Watch Alongs! I have decided to give those a rest for the time being, because I wasn't aware anyone was watching with me (!) but if you enjoyed them, do let me know.
Thank you for all your work! I've enjoyed all the reads enormously. Re: watch alongs, I was never able to watch at the same time due to time difference but I enjoyed all of the suggestions and I'd read all the comments later. (Although I was unable to stream Brazil, I found the 35mm Directors Cut playing at Film Forum which ended up being a summer highlight!)
That's lovely to hear - thank you!
I find the classics very easily in the US and am able to get them from my library and download them to my iPad. For The Summer Book, I googled it and was able to get a free copy online and I’m and enjoying it so much. I decided to become a paid subscriber because Henry leads us so well and his choices are books I of course had heard about but never read. I have streamlined my substack subscriptions and basically, there are so many books, too little time but the easy reading schedules here allows us to become wider read!
It is quite dear. Rich people only from now on. :(
Hi, Lesley. I hope you don't mind if I give my perspective. I agree with you that a paid subscription model can be dear at any price. I've spent the last few months winnowing my subscriptions to Substack creators, streaming services, and online versions of newspapers and magazines. Some took up too much time for too much money. Others took up too little time -- I didn't take advantage of what I'd subscribed to.
I enjoyed Simon Haisell's War and Peace slow read last year, so I joined three Substack read-along book clubs this year. I chose Henry and two others because of the books they planned to read. Henry is the only one I've stuck with. Henry is a writer, and it matters.
I'm glad you spoke up, Lesley. I'm an outspoken activist. I admire others who speak up. And I'm glad you offered to make the subscription work for Lesley, Henry.
Mostly, I'm glad to get so much value from my subscription to Read the Classics.
Alan - thank you so much for this extremely generous response. I'm very grateful.
When I came onto Substack it was for Phil Christman, who has this energetic way of writing I love. He is a teacher and does good work teaching incarcerated Americans to write. He's inspiring. I eventually became a paid subscriber. I read more and more Substack writers! Many of whom have solid knowledge about art and philosophy. I feel I am overwhelmed by all the great columns I subscribe to, (unpaid). I also pay for Hanif Kureishi's column because it's hard for him to write and he needs to pay his carers, but also he was nice to me when I was young, and replied to my letters. I also get the Times and the New Yorker and Private Eye! So you see it's all gone mad and I can't do enough reading! With Henry I read Anna Karenina, the old Curiosity Shop and Mrs Dalloway and Robinson Crusoe. I'm so enjoying it. But I always knew it was too good to be true and he couldn't keep doing it for no pay. I just need to think what to do. I do fancy coming to London for the book group.
Thanks Lesley - I hope not! I've tried to set a price that feels fair, but if it's too much at the moment, please just let me know and I'll gift you a free subscription.
That is v. kind of you but I am just checking for subs I can cancel and will think about it again. Thanks for a great choice of books.
Thanks Lesley - let me know how you get on. All best!
What a great idea!