What are the great patterning works of literature? In Book by Book, Michael Dirda presents a list of what he calls “patterning works” which he describes as books that “. . later authors regularly build on, allude to, work against.” and which he says “ . . . ought to lie at the heart of any structured reading program.” [more inside]
posted by jason's_planet on Sep 17, 2009 - 73 answers

Help me find classic English literature! [more inside]
posted by coolnik on May 10, 2009 - 16 answers

I want to acquire familiarity with famous works of German literature. What works would a typical person growing up in Germany have been exposed to as classics or as exemplary works? [more inside]
posted by philosophygeek on Jun 12, 2008 - 13 answers

Do you know any good sites in Spanish about literature, preferably with an emphasis on classic books or writers? Sites about both international and Spanish/Latin American literature are welcome. [more inside]
posted by ersatz on May 8, 2008 - 7 answers

Looking to make a list of famous artists, in all media, who "started it all." [more inside]
posted by Melismata on Mar 5, 2008 - 68 answers

Which book would you consider a "universal" book? [more inside]
posted by Jaybo on Mar 14, 2007 - 57 answers

Who is buying music by Shostakovich, watching silent movies, and reading Thackeray? [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on May 10, 2006 - 33 answers

Any suggestions for classic literature that offers the hope of belly laughs? I'm looking for laugh-out-loud funny classic fiction, preferably pre-1900. Kind of like this question, but with books instead of movies. [more inside]
posted by mediareport on May 8, 2006 - 62 answers