What a coincidence that you should mention Plutarch. Although I have had a copy of Plutarch on the shelves for years -- actually, three copies, one of selections in the Harvard Classics we inherited from the inlaws, which is only a limited selection, one the Modern Library Giant which is complete, and one in the Great Books of the Western World series, which is also complete, I hadn't done more than glance at a page or two in them from the time I read a few of the lives in college until two weeks ago, when I had finished up Trollpe's Orley Farm as my throne room reading and decided it was time to delve into Plutarch. I'm finding him wonderful. Not that far along yet, my throne room reading time is somewhat limited, but he's easy enough to read a few pages at a time.
I had read something on Truman recently in which he said that whenever he had a serious problem to address he would dismiss his advisers and open Plutarch and the answer always emerged. So I figured I had better get serious about figuring out what he was talking about. And I see already why he said what he did!
I do also like Ellis Peters, btw, but not as much as Dorothy Sayers, Rex Stout, or Ngaio Marsh.
Haven't seen the Hopkins film. Is it out on DVD or video yet? |
