Penguins Classics that don't exist, but should

Michael K. Vaughan's original video: • Penguin Classics That ...

[@drunzo363]

My list of books I want to see as Penguin Classics - *Parallel Lives* by Plutarch - *Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt* (2 vols) by Vivant Denon - *The French Revolution* by Thomas Carlyle - *Posthomerica* by Quintus of Smyrna - *The Man Who Laughs* by Victor Hugo - *Attic Nights* by Aulus Gellius - *The Whole Works of Homer* by George Chapman - *The Letters of Cicero* - *The History of Rome* by Theodor Mommsen - *The Roman Revolution* by Sir Ronald Syme

[@evaelisaveta2844]

HE'S BACK. HE EXISTS.

[@jxpettigrew]

Your videos are some of the most thoughtful and genuine on all of BookTube. Very glad to see you haven't stopped making them!

[@drunzo363]

Thank you for such kind words, Jordan!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m honored that my video inspired you to do this. Of course you are absolutely right about everything on your list. Penguin’s Plutarch still baffles me.

[@BrandonsBookshelf]

Dang man, just found your channel and now bummed to see you not posting so much. Still following along and here's to hoping for more from you.

[@Neville031]

this will sound so off topic but my cat just watched your video. so technically, you have explained about books to a cat. congratulations

[@merus2164]

Your videos are a comfort. It's like having a friend. You say that Plutarch is great company, and I agree, he is. So it is with great literature. We get to meet and befriend some of the greatest minds ever to think and hearts ever to feel; this makes our time on Earth not nearly so lonely as it might be. And yet, these authors, though their words are recorded, they cannot speak to us directly. That is why it is a comfort to hear the real voice of someone living speak with such passion and earnestness about such important things.

[@drunzo363]

I am honored by your kind words. Thank you.

[@marianapgar4409]

This was beautifully expressed.

[@colorlesswonderland]

THE GOD OF BOOKTUBE RETURNS TO US MORTALS

[@sebastiensullivan3166]

I love your videos too

[@drunzo363]

do I know you!?

[@mimimayhem]

I’m happy BookTube God Colorless Wonderland has blessed us mere mortals with regular videos now. Drunzo should, too.

[@wordswords2094]

The Letter's of Cicero are unbelievable. if you want to understand Rome, read these. Pliny's letters are interesting, too, but with Cicero...wow.....the people, the times......

[@aaronvelazquez5599]

The booktube gods have blessed our eyes with another video! Also, I started reading "of human bondage" because you recommended it, and it truly is one of the best things i've ever read in a while. God, i feel like Carey and my brain are part of the same source. So trippy!

[@colinsourk4519]

I just found your channel and watched all of your videos. I really hope you make a comeback because it is a pleasure to listen to you, and to hear your love for literature!

[@markjones7138]

Can you come back now please

[@liamfrederic5203]

HE‘S ALIVE

[@ipreet6850]

your channel is true defination of quality over quantity. 1or2 videos in months but all are effective and thoughtful .dont stop making it and keep sharing you experiences. the thing i like most is you tell how to approach a book like which books to read before and how much knowledge one required before reading that particular book etc..

[@shannonbelfield5577]

I really admire the passion and knowledge you show in your videos. My favorite part about reading histories and older classics is that feeling of “oh, they were people back then too”, I remember it really struck me the first time I read Plato. Great video, as always!

[@steph9265]

Hi Mark, miss your videos, would love to hear which books you’ve read recently, or some reviews or anything tbh! Love your content

[@dps3902]

My guy literally spews quality over quantity

[@jamescorbin5638]

Very refreshing to see a young man who reads the great books. Keep making videos but take time off when you need to. 😎

[@olgahaushinka-books]

Interesting books choice 😁

[@jonalexdeval]

Attic Nights would be good. I’d say Walter Savage Landor’s “Imaginary Conversations” is something I’d buy in a penguin copy. A reissue of Stapledon’s “Star Maker” would be nice for the greatest work of sci-fi ever written...

[@RicoLamar987]

Someone’s on vacation 👀

[@lightscamerasashley.]

you explain your thoughts so well. since i'm from texas, I tend to think a lot faster than I speak when I make book videos 😅 great video! happy reading 🙂📚

[@johnmooney9403]

Hi Drunzo just discovered excellent channel. Really like your passion for classical literature and contemporary books. Great videos.

[@jasminisabelle9669]

take a shot everytime he says penguin classics! 🥂 no but seriously, i really enjoy watching your videos, glad i stumbled across your channel :) hopefully you’ll upload soon again, would love a video about classics for beginners, where to even start and any tips?

[@marcopolo9146]

The only reason these titles should be published by Penguin is so that they can be attractively displayed in uniformity on a bourgeois bookcase. A book is a book and it matters not who publishes it. Buy a book wherever you find it.

[@KidFromNorway431]

Hey man, what is the diemensons of your book shelf (width, height, depth)? I really want to build one like yours.

[@chriss3625]

I can appreciate any person that can combine a well reasoned and thoughtful argument for how to publish Plutarch and the phrase “any-who”… 😅

[@mikemiller3272]

So glad I found your channel. You're the best of the bunch. And my TBR list grows... Thank you!

[@endgamefond]

The legend is back. OMG I'm so happy.

[@SplashyCannonBall]

Make more videos.

[@Tuesdaymayhew]

Newer subscriber here and happy to see you post! Your content is a refreshing change from other booktube channels I’ve seen which primarily focus on new releases. I haven’t read any of the works mentioned here, but I’m interested in checking them out!

[@maddssmithy]

What type of camera and mic (if you use one) do you film with? Is it a DSLR? Just wondering. Great video as usual.

[@drunzo363]

Hey Madison - for my camera I just use my iPhone 11 and for the mic I use a a FIFINE K678.

[@rourounnie]

Woah, look who it is making another grand return! As always, what a chill and insightful video!

[@shenanigans3710]

"I know I got a little hot headed there." Maybe academic hot headed 😂

[@MikoC-pm6ig]

you can make a video about anything and ill watch

[@folksurvival]

Good suggestions.

[@burke9497]

Always nice to get a video from Drunzo! Hope you’re doing well.

[@drunzo363]

Thank you, Jeffrey!

[@evanrushing1849]

Really love the translation information. Great video 👏👌

[@delfinamoyanopicca]

The Modern Library currently has a paperback edition that includes many notes and a preface! It does come in two volumes and I haven't read it yet so I don't know how good the notes are but other works that I've read have had amazing notes that complement the story perfectly.

[@delfinamoyanopicca]

I forgot to mention that the it's Plutarch's lIves lol

[@OldHickory1828]

If you're referring to the John Dryden translation then I have that as well. It's excellent, but be warned. As of the 21st printing of the 2001 edition, (my edition that I bought less than two years ago) there are hardly any supplementary materials. There's a decent intro and a preface of less than 30 pages. But when it comes to notes there are no footnotes or endnotes as we understand them. The notes are typically only a single sentence set off in parentheses. Only very few of these notes occur in the entire two volume set. Usually they provide a bit of clarity to a Roman cultural or religious practice. The book is still good because of its completeness, its inclusion of the comparison essays, and the beautiful Dryden translation. But if your primary interests are copious notes and a long scholarly introduction, then you should look elsewhere.

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

The only youtuber to ever inspire me

[@kalin1161]

Love this channel 📚

[@daliciaanderson1810]

good see you again

[@ovandothack]

you’re back!

[@leilastackleather9927]

So exciting to see a new video pop up. I wish you, Matt's Bookshelf, and Colorless Wonderland would do a read-along collaboration and live stream.

[@harone3682]

WELCOME BACK MAN! GREAT VIDEO

[@stanbrown32]

Great to see you back, and enjoyable and thought-provoking video as always. You started me thinking, and then I had to check whether Penguin had an edition of The Federalist Papers, and checking I discovered the Penguin Civic Classics line. So thanks! (By the way, the Baltimore university is JohnS Hopkins, not John Hopkins.)

[@katrieladolphus920]

I just love your videos

[@drunzo363]

Thank you, Katriel!

[@y2kmedia118]

Just looked up your channel earlier today to see if you uploaded, and now I get this notification. Always good to have uploads from this fine channel.

[@Anastasia-mx2qf]

Animal Liberation in the background!!

[@wanmuizzmahmood]

can you please do books you'd sell your soul to read for the first time again🥺🙏🏻

[@logicandreason9935]

Another great one I would love to see on penguin is phenomenology of spirit by Hegel. I’m currently reading it and it would be very very nice as an embellishment to most book lovers penguin collection. If critique of pure reason made it to penguin, so should this.

[@bignatesbookreviews]

you lowkey need to work at penguin fam

[@benmartizz8238]

HE IS BAAAAAAACK

[@hw744]

Always love to see your video! Every time I walk away with many great book recommendations!

[@drunzo363]

I am very glad you enjoyed the video! Happy reading!

[@jeremyfee]

Welcome back. This was a great video for a return.

[@starcapture3040]

I want a Book with complete list of Egyptian Literature or A book translating every temple as book since these temples aren't temples as much as being standing books.I want book collecting the the anicent mesopotamian poems too since they were the earliest in history. Also I believe Works of Ibn Rushed don't exist as well Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldon although these books have had huge inflance in creating the rationalist philosophy in western europe. I want terence plays Romens most favorite playwrite. Gilgamesh Translations we still have are all very old ones, I want anew one. I want Drosilla and Charikles a byzantine novel. I want Al-Ma'arri Works since his works have inspired Dante in his writings and I couldn't find any too. there are a lot of ancient literature work does not exist on audiobooks format too for me Altrusian Grace Media - KZbin channel it is a Savior for me for that reason, He Gonna publish the Pyramids Text next month,can't wait and hopfullay conference of the birds afterwords.

[@drunzo363]

Your idea for translations of different temples is amazing, I would love more than anything to see Penguin do something like that! I actually just recently picked up the Princeton University Press edition of the Muqaddimah by Idn Khaldûn - I am very excited to read it.

[@AB-jk3ft]

I see a copy of The Death of Virgil by Broch behind you, have you gotten around to that one yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it if you have

[@drunzo363]

I have not yet read The Death of Virgil - I found it just last month at a used bookstore. I'm looking forward to getting to it, though!

[@AB-jk3ft]

@@drunzo363 I hope you enjoy it! It was a very difficult read for me because of some of the stream of consciousness but I still really enjoyed it, even if some of it went over my head lol. I'm also actually about to start another of Broch's books called The Sleepwalkers which I think I'll like even more

[@TheJudgeandtheJury]

He says that he never dies. The Judge lives on. ( Blood Meridian)

[@Antimimesis]

Hi Drunzo! I have an interest in Ancient Greek and Roman works and I worked my way through all the major works a few years ago so it's great hearing you express thoughts which I had when I was looking into and purchasing all these books. I completely agree with you on Plutarch and Penguin's (and Oxford World Classics') adulteration of his Lives. I read his work from the 2-volume version of the Modern Library edition you have (funnily enough, something like 20 pages were missing from Cicero's life. I got a partial refund from the bookseller and ended up buying his volume from Britannica's Great Books set (nicely bound in orange "leather", but the text is unfortunately double-columned (yet complete)). I'll have to check the Posthomerica out. It looks like I don't have that on my to-read list and I thought I had scraped the barrel of all the lesser Greek and Roman works. Completely agree with you about Aulus Gullies also. I've wanted to read him for a while but like you pointed out, the prohibitive price of the Loeb set is what's delaying me. (Although I did splurge for Loeb's 15 or 16 volume set of Plutarch's Moralia many years ago, as well as their 5 volume set of The Greek Anthology, a work which I'd highly recommend if it isn't already on your list). Agree with you on Cicero's letters as well: another work I've out off reading due to the massive cost of the Loeb set. And finally, it's very nice to hear someone else even mention Mommsen. I actually bought his abridged edition from the Folio Society (one of my favourite physical volumes with nice blue cloth, brown leather, ribbon bookmark, and nicely formatted text) and read it sometime before Gibbon (followed by Hodgkin's Italy and Her Invaders (published as The Barbarian Invasions of The Roman Empire by The Folio Society), and then Norwich's Byzantium set (another work I'd highly recommend; it gives a great enlightening historical account of the Eastern Empire)) since I was reading historical accounts in chronological order. I plan on getting his unabridged 5 volume set from Cambridge at some point, and I also bought his "A History of Rome Under the Emperors" (9780415206471) which is a collection of his lectures; material with which he was planning to end his main History. You should pick that up too when you eventually read him. Like others have said, it's nice to see your video pop up on my feed after a while - ) Happy reading! - )

[@drunzo363]

Thank you for commenting! I am very curious - how did you like Mommsen? I haven't done any research into the translations of him into English and I also have not done any deep dives into the reception of his literary style. Would love to know! And I have myself considered picking up some of the Loeb volumes of the Moralia, the Penguin Plutarch abridgement titled "Essays" is far too little!

[@mimimayhem]

Great list! I’d mistake you for a scholar of letters if you didn’t mention in your earlier videos that you’re not in the field.

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

I came via Steve' s channel. I have the Folio Society edition of Mommsen. I'd love a complete edition. All your suggestions are intelligent and worthy of our attention. I hope you don't mind me saying, I'm old enough to be your grandma, but it is so refreshing to see such a well-read young man, particularly in the the Classics. I've subscribed to your channel..

[@drunzo363]

Thank you for such kind words, Clare!

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

@@drunzo363 you are welcome. Your video was excellent. I shall explore some more of your channel today.

[@wallyunicorn]

Good to see you back😀 Saludos from Buenos Aires!

[@ThatReadingGuy28]

Other classic translations Penguin should do is North’s Plutarch and florio’s Montaigne, both Elizabethan translations that Shakespeare almost certainly read and used. NYRB classics publishes a selection of Florio’s Montaigne but it’s not nearly the entire thing.

[@frankmorlock1403]

Nice list. I am glad you selected the Post Homerica by Quintus Smrnaeus. I own a copy, and have read it. It's much better than than the Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes as authentic epic in my opinion. I would like to make a couple suggestions. 1st the Dionysiaca by Nonnus of Panopolis a 5th century I've never read it but wanted to for many years, but was unable to obtain the prose translation by E. V. Rieu. I learned today that University of Michigan Press is publishing a verse translation, first ever in English. It is a book I had never heard of although I fancied myself as knowledgeable in Epic Literature. Then I read a collection of mostly classical stories by Richard Garnett The Twilight of the Gods a delightful book that anyone interested in Greoc Roman Classics should read. Garnett has a ironic story about Nonnus in the collection. After reading Garnett's work I set out in search of that has lasted many years. That search appears to have come to an end, though I would still prefer to read Rieu's translation.

[@abhinvra]

Did you study history in college? What makes you keenly passionate about the transitional elements between the republic and empire of Rome, and what keeps you invigorated by roman and greek history for instance and what other facets of history interests you and why? Do you also happen to see any parallels or lessons to be heeded by contemporaneous structures of polity therein? Thanks! (Sorry about the barrage of questions)

[@PrettyPastelWinter]

Hey Drunzo, big fan here. I feel like we would be friends. I love your passion for books and your curiosity of the world through the eyes of others. I like your choices, although I do wish that there was more diversity. Seeing more emphasis on women authors would make me so happy - and it would positively impact your male audience. I don't think there was even one woman in the list. I know there's less to choose from, but still. Please keep making videos!! (When it calls to you lol)

[@drunzo363]

Fortunately, all the women authors whom I love are already represented in Penguin Classics! But just a few hours after posting the video, I realized I forgot to include "The Journals of Mary Shelley" as a potential volume. Johns Hopkins University Press has an 800 page volume of the same name, and it is extremely hard to find the volume for cheap (lowest I have seen was around $100). I would love more than anything to see such a publication from Penguin as Shelley is one of my favorite authors due to Frankenstein having been the cause to get me into classics. While we're at it... Penguin should publish "The Last Man" as well! Thank you for the kind words, Mackenzie!

[@PrettyPastelWinter]

@@drunzo363 that is awesome, thank you for that! I haven’t read Frankenstein yet but just bought a copy recently actually so I’m excited to read her work. I appreciate that info and your kindness/thoughtfulness. I’ll be sure to check out the “The Last Man” too!

[@h.f.hussain4632]

Would it not be a disservice to the author to choose them based on their gender, for the sake of diversity, rather than their talent as a writer, for the sake of integrity?