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Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

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Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#242

Post by eesmith »

lostlogin wrote: post #56
ChrisSD wrote: post #47

Since many other people have mentioned ancient essays I like, I'll go for something more "modern". Some of Bertrand Russell's earlier works are well worth a read even though they're obviously dated. * The Problems of Philosophy (1912) gives a short introduction to philosophy that he at the time considered "positive and constructive". https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5827/5827-h/5827-h.htm * Mysticism and Logic and Oth…

Something that’s always fascinated me - Bertrand Russell’s life covered many years and massive change, making for a good biography. His grandfather met Napoleon when in exile and I believe recounted this experience to a young Bertrand Russell (I can’t find a source for this currently). Bertrand Russell also watched the moon landing on TV. These events seem so far apart but are separated by just 2 (long) lifetimes.

There are people alive today with a grandparent born in the 1700s - https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/heir-raising-experience/ (at least true up to a few years ago).

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#243

Post by TheGallopedHigh »

nindalf wrote: post #234
TheGallopedHigh wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To follow up your recommendation: he was more than a Roman emperor, he was arguably one of, if not the most powerful people on the planet. Some might argue that any Roman Empror was, but his reign I believe was near the zenith of Rome’s Empire in terms of territory (please correct me if I’m wrong). Therefore you’re reading his diary, realizing his own worries, all the while being this person.

In terms of territory, the Empire reached it's zenith under Trajan.

Was Trajan later or earlier? Thanks for the clarification in any case

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#245

Post by ainiriand »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #179
ainiriand wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A masterpiece to live through the ages. The first time I read it I was impressed that I could read something as long in such a short time.

I remember that feeling well, although I’d some prior experience with surprisingly short/not long enough books ( Gone with the Wind is sometimes described as “the shortest long book ever” for similar reasons). Les Misérables is probably my second favorite but that took me so many times longer to make my way through, probably because of Victor Hugo’s unfortunate tendency to go so off track, interjecting with two hundr…

Hahaha I remember having the same feeling when I read Les Miserables! One of my favourites definitely.

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?

#246

Post by nindalf »

TheGallopedHigh wrote: post #243
nindalf wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In terms of territory, the Empire reached it's zenith under Trajan.

Was Trajan later or earlier? Thanks for the clarification in any case

Earlier. After Marcus Aurelius it was a steady downward trend.
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