A thoughtful exploration of how classic books, plays, pieces, and artists can move you
The classics aren’t just reading assignments. They can open your eyes to worlds and ways of life you’ve never seen before, from Ancient Greece in The Odyssey to Ancient Rome in The Aeneid and beyond. They’re timeless for a reason, with the Hero’s Journey, stories of war, love, and the perpetual battle between good and evil, serving as progenitors of future stories. Great Works and Me is an inspiring invitation to dive into some of the greatest pieces of art ever produced.
While Homer and Virgil composed lyrical epics, the philosopher Plato wrote a milestone in political theory with The Republic. Herodotus’s contribution in illuminating the past can’t be understated. William Shakespeare wrote tragedies from MacBeth to Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet, and his ability to branch out into other genres with comedies such as Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night distinguished him as a literary titan in the 16th and 17th century. As viewed by Fallquist, the impact of Shakespeare is in how his works have endured. How many of his plays have been revived throughout the centuries? Fallquist’s appreciation for standout literature doesn’t confine itself to the noted bard as his lists include the works of Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote), Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales), James Joyce (Ulysses). The author possesses a refined intellect and an eclectic taste—essentials for a book like this.
Fallquist doesn’t just tell us to read these occasionally difficult, older books. He acknowledges the intimidating nature of opening these texts and speaks on a personal level on how they’ve moved him. Great Works and Me invites the reader to research the texts while or before reading them by sharing helpful videos and articles, explaining the impact of the art on our history. In the end, this is an extremely helpful guide to difficult, important work that’s worth exploring.
It’s not just literature we’re talking about either. While authors let their pen do the talking in expressing their thoughts and emotions, the painter uses his or her brush to create something beautiful, such as Da Vinci with the “Mona Lisa” or Pablo Picasso with his more abstract works based on “Cubism.” The artist creates something that speaks to them, and the most memorable art speaks to those who appreciate it. After reading Great Works and Me, that could be you. Whereas the painter’s perspective is on the canvas, the labor of the opera composer plays out on the stage with soaring vocals and high drama from Carmen to The Marriage of Figaro. The highlighted opera selections showcase some unforgettable music along with memorable storylines. I’d be surprised if, after reading reading this book, you weren’t equipped with multiple canonical pieces you’re excited to explore.
This book compiles an extensive list of art, literature, and music and how it has left an indelible mark on author Richard Fallquist. Fallquist doesn’t merely drop favorites and leave them for the reader to ponder why they register as notable or great, he writes spirited descriptions of the musical compositions that spur him to action, the plays that strike an emotional chord with him decades after his initial viewing/reading, the work of art that he can’t get his mind off of. This is a book that leads by example: demonstrating the importance not of reading every piece of classic literature but of being open to trying them, of fighting through the perceived difficulty to discover just how impactful and timeless these pieces can be.
And what better source to learn from than the well-read and cultured Fallquist? Here is a brilliant, studied mind who invites further exploration by citing various internet resources which dive into The Iliad, Hamlet, Waiting for Godot, etc.
Great Works and Me is an enthusiastic appreciation of creative expression in various forms. This is a book that will inspire the reader to think differently about the next song they hear, the next novel they read, or the next play they see. If you’re an art lover—or just want to be—this is a work you’re going to want to pick up.
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