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Forgotten Classics
by Tristan Davies
Forgotten Classics. Both these terms are problematic. Who decides what’s a classic? And one reader’s forgetfulness is another’s constant reminder. Generally speaking, though, time has done a fair job in leaving us with a trusty list of worthwhile books. But even among these hearty survivors, there are a good number of titles that, if not exactly forgotten, hover on the blue lip of flickering memory. Here are six titles worthy of a refresher:
Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe (1719). We all know what we’ll do when we become Supreme Ruler. When Crusoe gets his shot, he finds that it’s not so easy. How would you order society, if you have it to do over? There’d be no Lost without Robinson Crusoe. Those television castaways are merely the 21st century version of Defoe’s endlessly influential and entertaining novel, which is also the first of its kind.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1782). After reading this novel, you can see why the French had a revolution. There isn’t a trashy paperback novel in existence that doesn’t owe a debt to Laclos’s story of perfidy, sexual intrigue, and betrayal. Umpteen movie versions of this novel have been made, and none yet begin to approach the wickedness in these pages.
Peasants, Anton Chekhov (1897). As literary forms go, the short story is a fairly recent one, having its origins in E.T.A. Hoffmann’s remarkable stories, such as “The Sandman.” Eighty years after Hoffmann, Anton Chekhov, the greatest writer at the form ever and still, produced this masterful collection. The title story may be the best ever written.
The Log of A Cowboy, Andy Adams (1903). Of all these titles, this one really is forgotten. This is the first Western, describing a cattle drive from Mexico to Montana in the 1880s. It’s fast-paced, raucous, and authentic. Like Robinson Crusoe, it launched an unimaginable number of imitators. Larry McMurtry rewrote it into Lonesome Dove. Louis L’Amour claimed to have read it a hundred times. It’s a guy book, to be sure, and one of the ultimate ones.
Pnin, Vladimir Nabokov, (1957). Published two years after Nabokov gained everlasting wealth and infamy from Lolita, this short novel is remarkable for its humor and humanity. Calling it “sweet,” as some have, is taking things a bit far—this is Nabokov, after all. However, it does the best job of any of his novels in balancing the acid and the elegant. It is remarkably pleasurable reading.
The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton (1920). When Scorsese’s film version came out, a certain Baltimore matron told me: “When Mr. Archer touches Countess Olenska’s gloved hand, that’s all you need to see—there’s none of this smut!” I was glad to find, then, that Wharton’s novel is chock full of smut, illicit sex, and bad decisions. Her title, happily, is entirely ironic—There’s nothing innocent whatsoever in what she writes. For this Wharton is underappreciated.
Tristan Davies teaches in The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins. His forthcoming collection of stories is entitled Forecast.
Normal’s Books
425 E 31st Street
(410) 243-6888
http://www.normals.com
Whether you’re a big bookworm, always squirmy for another great read, or just a bargain-happy shopper, Normal’s is your book paradise. With a diverse selection of ninety-nine-percent used titles, the hip Waverly store lines three rambling rooms with over 100,000 discount books in good to excellent condition. Bookshelf categories include art, cooking, Maryland history, media studies, medicine, plays and poetry, self-help, transportation, and lots, lots more. The acclaimed self-helper, Short Chic: Everything You Need to Know for Every Woman under 5’4” (Rawson, Wade) is $7.50. The Collected Poems of Frank O’Hara is a steal. This shop is a smart place to buy many classic titles for high school and college kids’ coursework. Normal’s houses a sweet record collection, too, containing classical, jazz, soul, and rock. Vinyl steals: The Best of Isaac Hayes ($6), Charlie Parker: The Verve Years 1952-54 ($15). Local writer Rupert Wondolowski and three partners own the collectively run store. Normal’s buys books, but if you’re looking to sell, please phone first.
Daedalus Books
9645 Gerwig Lane
Columbia, MD
(410) 309-2730
Housed on the first floor of the Daedalus corporate offices in Columbia, this bookstore looks a little drab on the outside, but it’s jam-packed with new and remaindered bargains. If you can wait several months for a popular new title on your lit wish list to be deemed “overprinted,” you’ll find it at Daedalus for a song. Susanna Clarke’s critical hit, Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell (Bloomsbury) sells for $6.98 hardback, while the Karen Joy Fowler bestseller, The Jane Austen Book Club (Putnam), is $9.75 in paperback. Lord of the Flies is $5.98 in pristine hardcover—Daedalus is another smart stop for cheap academic classics. A Daedalus branch opens in Belvedere Square this spring—expect similar quality but much better ambience. Categories include art (the small section is stellar), cooking, calendars, history, psychology, and a terrific children’s section, too. Carl’s Sleepy Afternoon by Alexandra Day (Farrar Straus Giroux) priced at $8.95 slashes several bucks off list. Looking for an unpredictable gift? Scan the books on tape section or check out the gorgeous art calendars.