Greatest book ever written?

[Heffalump]

Of Time and the River
Thomas Wolfe

 

[heliogabalus]

Originally posted by Simon Darkshade
I would have to nominate a work of practical worth as well as literary brilliance. In both categories, it is perhaps the best work of the past millenium:

Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course

In your first post in this thread you mentioned "The Liar". Were you talking of the debut novel by Stephen Fry? I read it recently and liked it. But I preferred by far "The Hippopotamus", with "Making History" taking the second place.

 

[kmad]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
1984. Describes communism perfectly.

This is my favorite book also.. made me realize that humanity has no true intelligent thought, just behavioral patterns like any animal from the jungle

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Originally posted by heliogabalus
In your first post in this thread you mentioned "The Liar". Were you talking of the debut novel by Stephen Fry? I read it recently and liked it. But I preferred by far "The Hippopotamus", with "Making History" taking the second place.

Yes, 'twas. My order of preference is The Liar, The Stars Tennis Balls, Making History, and then The Hippopotamus. 'Hippo' is still good, but one prefers the others, and particularly the semi-autobiographical debut novel.

 

[kmad]

Originally posted by Chairman Yang
Political: The Communist Manifesto,

That and Mein Kampf are my favorite political books.. Hitler was a genius (not to offend anyone)

 

[newfangle]

Mein Kampf was a series of incoherent rantings with an odd slur aimed at jews put in for good measure. I felt like puking the whole way through (Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is much more readable and not so offending).

 

[Simon Darkshade]

An evil genius, yes.
Mein Kampf is a work of note, not because of its literary merits, clearness of expression, or admirable ideas expressed therein, but rather because it, along with 'The Myth of the Twentieth Century' does comprise the literary canon of the National Socialist movement. It gives us a view into the mind and philosophy of those responsible for said movement.

 

[Peri]

I would say that Green Eggs and Ham has to rank among the greats. Who could deny the tremendous character development where the principal character, after much personal torment finally realises that he does indeed like green eggs and ham and not only likes them but believes that he could indeed eat them here and there.

 

[Peri]

double post sorry

 

[Zcylen]

The Odissey.

 

[Portuguese]

Originally posted by MCdread


Since you don't make any refrences about my initial assumption of the book in questio, I'll assume that you are really talking about the 3rd book of the 4 Allan Massie, a scottish writer, wrote about roman emperors (the first one is about Caesar, who was no emperor, but almost). The last two, covering the life of Augustus and Tiberius are FICTIONAL AUTO-BIOGRAPHIES, so the answer to your question is YES: it is only fiction.
What I don't get it is how could you have actually thought it was real. Probably you were unaware of the existance of the other books of Allan Massie, but that still is no reason, as if I recall it correctly the back page is full with quotes from some apreciations on Allan Massie's work and that book in particulary (at least in the portuguese edition, which I trust was the one you were reading).
Still, it is amazing how you read the entire book and didn't figure that out...
Oh, and prof. Aeneas something in the preface is also made up.

BTW, if you enjoyed this book (it's a good book in the genre of historic fiction) try the others by the same author. I liked more Caesar and Tiberius. There is a 5th one about the year of the 4 emperors, after the death of Nero, but I think it's not edited in Portugal yet.

Yes, of course it's Massie's one.
I didn't know that it was fiction. It was strange that it was unknown, but great books (LOTR since recently, for one) are,so...
I was finding it strange, but I thought it was real because of what I've said before: it is very well written, full of details and jokes and it says in the preface something about another version that is being prepared, more reliable This is quite strange in a fictional book. (And that strange division in two...)
BTW, I usually don't read back pages. So, don't knowing him and don't having that habit tricked me. Oops! Nevertheless, it was a good book and I enjoy reading it.

I'll read Julius and Marcus Antonius one's so, since they are real, assuming you are correct, what I know will confirm some way.
Tiberius is of minor revelance and is as real as Octavius, so only if I have time, someday...

Anyway, thx for telling me this. I never liked to be telling errors by ignorance Assim é q é carago! (Sou minhoto, mas viver aqui faz disto )

 

[Portuguese]

'The Myth of the Twentieth Century' - Never heard of it.
Who wrote it and what's it about?

 

[MCdread]

Originally posted by Portuguese

I'll read Julius and Marcus Antonius one's so, since they are real, assuming you are correct, what I know will confirm some way.
Tiberius is of minor revelance and is as real as Octavius, so only if I have time, someday...

No, no, no! They are fictional, but the only the last two are autobiographies. The Caesar one is actually the autobiography of one of his generals and also one of the assassins, Decimus Brutus, and Antony's one is the fictional biography of this roman general and polititian, that he is dictating to his secretary, who makes lots of personal comments, so it's a mixture.

And I do think Tiberius is the best one in terms of literary value, although Caesar is great because of the suspense about the conspiration.

Originally posted by Portuguese

Anyway, thx for telling me this. I never liked to be telling errors by ignorance Assim é q é carago! (Sou minhoto, mas viver aqui faz disto )

Tá-se bem! (sou beirão, mas é como dizes, viver aqui faz disto ). Mas se não fosses português era capaz de ter mandado uma piadazita em relação ao teu erro.

 

[Portuguese]

OK, I'll read them all. Massie's is great and I like Romans

Iá. Mas já disseste bué de mal no q eu citei antes. Se fosse estado-unidense já vinhas com "Vocês são uns incultos" e conversas do género. Não se faz...

Por acaso distraí-me e os exames aqui na FEP (Faculdade de Economia do Porto) andam a fazer-me mal...

Da próxima tenho mais cuidado...

Tás na boa. Skip
(Xau é de fraca qualidade... )

 

[Portuguese]

Double post.

 

[MCdread]

Não exageremos, defendo incondicionalmente a língua portuguesa bem falada...

Good luck for your exams. Mine are also coming faster than they should.

A propósito da boca dos "estado-unidenses": de maneira nenhuma, não partilho dessas opiniões, eles são tão cultos ou incultos como o resto da malta. E aprova está nesta conversa.
Don't take it serious, just joking. Um abraço.

 

[Portuguese]

Não entendo as aspas.
Estado-unidenses são dos EUA.
Americanos são da América (mais do que só os EUA)

Já agora vê as minhas fotos nas últimas duas páginas de "Membre photos III" e coloca lá uma tua para saber com quem falo.

Estuda muito e boa sorte.

 

[doduhdew]

the greatest novel of all time.

"the bible."

 

[MCdread]

Originally posted by Portuguese
Não entendo as aspas.
Estado-unidenses são dos EUA.
Americanos são da América (mais do que só os EUA)

Já agora vê as minhas fotos nas últimas duas páginas de "Membre photos III" e coloca lá uma tua para saber com quem falo.

Estuda muito e boa sorte.

Porra ! Pensei que tinhas posto as aspas tb. Foi só por isso. Convém falar inglês por causa dos moderadores... Sorry about that mistake.
I've seen your photos, but my scanner is off and I don't have any digitalised one. I'm also not sure if I want to do that.

 

[philippe]

Much of the stuff by Anthony Horowitz