Classic Author Focus: Nellie Campobello

Nellie Campobello Nellie Campobello was a Mexican writer, ballet dancer, and choreographer. Her best known work is Carthucho, the only work by a woman novelist to document the Mexican Revolution. She was also a founder of the Mexico City Ballet and a director of the Mexican National School of Dance. The biographical articles I could …

Your Lucky Spin Number Is…

If you joined the game last week, find number 6 on your CC Spin #27 List! That's the CLASSIC you are challenged to read by 22nd August, 2021.  We know it can be hard to stay on track and enthused about your Spin Book for the whole journey. We plan to provide support and encouragement to …

CC Spin #27

Hello, Clubbers! It's time for another Classics Club Spin!What is the spin? It's easy. At your blog, before next Sunday 18th JULY, 2021, create a post that lists twenty books of your choice that remain "to be read" on your Classics Club list. This is your Spin List. You have to read one of these …

Classic Author Focus: Isak Dinesen

Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) Isak Dinesen is the nom de plume of Danish writer Karen Blixen. She is best known for her memoir Out of Africa, about the years when she farmed a coffee plantation in Kenya, but she was mostly a short story writer and poet. Although Dinesen's family was among the Danish upper …

Did You Finish Your Spin?

Today's the Day! On the 18th April we announced the latest Classic Club Spin, challenging you to read book 11 on your CC Spin #26 list by 31st May, 2021. Did you read your book? Did you write about it, or not? What's Next? In the comments below, tell us what book you read, and what you thought …

Classic Author Focus: Frans G. Bengtsson

Frans G. Bengtsson I wanted to write about Frans G. Bengtsson, because I so much enjoyed reading his book The Long Ships, an unexpectedly exuberant and funny novel about a Viking. However, this will be a short post, because there's not much information available online about him. Bengtsson was a Swedish novelist, essayist, poet, translator, …

What is Going on at the Classics Club This Summer?

Summer is often a time for many of us to try something new, to take on a new challenge. Perhaps you would like to do that. What are some of the challenges you might like to join? Here are a few that are, or might be, taking place. Beginning in June 2021 Kay at What …

Classic Author Focus: Flora Nwapa

Flora Nwapa Flora Nwapa has been called the mother of Nigerian writing, and she was the first African woman novelist to be published in English in Britain. She is best known for recreating the life and customs of the Igbo from a woman's viewpoint. She also worked with orphans and refugees who were displaced after …

Your Lucky Spin Number Is…

If you joined the game last week, find number 11 on your CC Spin #26 List! That's the CLASSIC you are challenged to read by 31st May, 2021.  We know it can be hard to stay on track and enthused about your Spin Book for the whole journey. We plan to provide support and encouragement to …

CC Spin #26

Hello, Clubbers! It's time for another Classics Club Spin!What is the spin? It's easy. At your blog, before next Sunday 18th April, 2021, create a post that lists twenty books of your choice that remain "to be read" on your Classics Club list. This is your Spin List. You have to read one of these …

Classic Author Focus: Jane Porter

Jane Porter Jane Porter is known as one of the earliest historical novelists. She is best known for The Scottish Chiefs, about William Wallace, which is still popular with British children, and her work was highly regarded by Walter Scott. Porter was born in Durham, England, but after her father's death, the family moved to …

Upcoming Events?

Does anyone have any classics-related events coming up in 2021? It's been quiet over in the events corner of The Classics Club blog. Rachel at The Edge of the Precipice has invited you to join her in a read-along of Sense and Sensibility that began March 1st. There are more details on her blog. Dolce Bellezza will …

Classic Author Focus: Sun Tzu

Statue of Sun Tzu Probably the most interesting thing about Sun Tzu is that it is not even known whether he actually existed. Although he is famous for having written The Art of War, in recent years, some historians have begun to wonder if he wasn't a made-up descriptor. That is because he isn't mentioned …

The Classic Meme 2.0

  Hello Clubbers! Way back when, in 2012, the Classics Club came into being. A monthly meme was devised to bring clubbers together to chat about classics. A question was posed for you to ponder and discuss. You could write a blog post and leave the link or simply put your thoughts in the comments. …

Did You Finish Your Spin?

Today's the Day! On the 22nd November, 2020 we announced the latest Classic Club Spin, challenging you to read book 14 on your CC Spin #25 list by 30th January, 2021. Did you read your book? Did you write about it, or not? What's Next? In the comments below, tell us what book you read, and what you …

Classic Author Focus: Dorothy B. Hughes

Dorothy B. Hughes I decided to write about Dorothy B. Hughes after reading her noir suspense novel In a Lonely Place. It is an excellent, dark novel that was made into a movie starring Humphrey Bogart in 1950, in which unfortunately they changed the ending. Sadly, Hughes's life wasn't as exciting as her novels. She …