![]() You should read classic literature because it forces you to think deeply and concentrate.Ģ1st century media is hell on the attention span. ![]() This brings us to the first and, to my mind, most important reason to read the classics in 2019. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off - then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This essay is about to make the argument that there is value to the way the classics force us to slow down and concentrate, and it will be easier for you to understand that point if you experience it first. ![]() In just a bit I’m going to quote that sentence, and insist that you read it.Īnd I mean really read it. The famous opening sentence of Moby Dick, so short and provocative, is welcoming and familiar to the 21st century reader, who is accustomed to snappy prose with short sentences and lots of white space.Ī few sentences later in Melville’s masterpiece we get a sentence that’s more representative of the novel to come. ![]() First edition printing of Moby Dick from Raptis Rare Books.
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June 2023
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