Teaching the Classics Booklist

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Some of the best things are born of necessity. While no one twisted Adam and Missy Andrews' arms to get them to create Teaching the Classics, a number of local home school parents (knowing the Andrews' academic backgrounds) did ask repeatedly to be shown how to teach their kids to appreciate and analyze literature. The Andrews eventually complied, distilling what parents need to know to lead Socratic-style discussions about great books into a relatively short lecture series and syllabus.

Teaching the Classics isn't a curriculum. There are no assignments, no lesson plans, and no workbooks, and you certainly can't hand anything to your kids and have them work on their own. Instead, it's a lifestyle tool, providing you and your children the necessary tools to understand literature, and by extension any ideas that make their way into your home, whether through the newspaper, movies, or talk radio. In his engaging DVD lectures, Adam Andrews shows the importance of reading quality fiction, and then equips you to do so.

Because it's not a curriculum, there's no required reading list, but there is an appendix in the teacher syllabus offering a book list of recommended titles for young children, elementary and middle school kids, and high school students. Each title is arranged alphabetically by author, with a brief description of the listed book. We carry about 90% of these titles (we're working on bringing all of them in), and they're listed below. Remember, these aren't required reading, but they do make an excellent place to start.

We're very impressed with Teaching the Classics, as well as the other products developed by Adam and Missy Andrews. Good books are important to us, but we see no point in reading them only for entertainment purposes. Literature needs to be engaged, and as Christians we have a responsibility to engage it in a particular way, a way the Andrews are willing and able to share with those of us who didn't major in English. The variety of titles in the list below shows how versatile their approach really is, though we encourage you to start with picture books no matter what age your kids are, as they offer a non-threatening venue for putting somewhat foreign concepts into practice.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Teaching the Classics Booklist

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11th grade (Ages 16-17)

	Aeneid by Virgil, translated by Robert Fitzgerald from Vintage Classics Ancient Literature/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $16.00
	All Creatures Great and Small James Herriot Series Book 1 by James Herriot from St. Martin's Press Realistic Fiction for 7th-Adult in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $15.20
	Animal Farm Signet Classics by George Orwell from Signet Classics Utopian/Dystopian Literature for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $9.99
	Animal Farm by George Orwell from Plume Books Utopian/Dystopian Literature for 6th-12th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $16.00
	Anna Karenina Signet Classics by Leo Tolstoy, translated by David Magarshack from Signet Classics Realistic Fiction for 11th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $7.95
	Beowulf A Verse Translation by Anonymous (translation by Frederick Rebsamen) from HarperCollins Medieval Poetic Epic for 8th-Adult in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED) $9.99 $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Divine Comedy - Dorothy Sayers trilogy Inferno (Hell), Purgatory, and Paradise Penguin Classics by Dante Alighieri, translated by Dorothy Sayers and Barbara Reynolds from Penguin Putnam Medieval Allegory/Poetic Epic for 10th-Adult in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED) $42.50
	Fellowship of the Ring Lord of the Rings #1: Deluxe Hardcover by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 8th-12th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $40.00
	Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegory for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.99
	Heart of Darkness Dover Thrift Editions by Joseph Conrad from Dover Publications Realistic Modern Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00
	Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad from Modern Library Realistic Modern Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Hobbit and Lord of the Rings - Deluxe Hardcover Collection by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 5th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Iliad Everyman's Library by Homer (translation by Robert Fitzgerald) from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Ancient Literature/Epic Poetry for 9th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $23.00
	Iliad by Homer (translation by Robert Fitzgerald) from Franklin Library Ancient Literature/Epic Poetry for 9th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
	Iliad Signet Classics by Homer (translation by W.H.D. Rouse), Afterword by Adam Nicolson from Signet Classics Ancient Literature for 9th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $6.95
	Invisible Man by H. G. Wells from Signet Classics Science Fiction for 7th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Invisible Man by H. G. Wells, illustrated by Louis Strimpl from SeaWolf Press Science Fiction for 7th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $7.95
	Jane Eyre Puffin Classics by Charlotte Bronte from Puffin Books Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte from Dover Publications Realistic Romantic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $8.00 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte from International Collectors Library Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg from Random House Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Illustrated by F. H. Townsend from SeaWolf Press Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $13.99
	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, illustrated by Edward A. Wilson from Random House Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Jane Eyre Puffin Classics by Charlotte Bronte from Ignatius Press Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Jane Eyre & Wuthering Heights - 2 Volume Set by Charlotte Bronte and Emily Bronte, illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg from Random House Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl from Pocket Books Non-fiction/Adventure for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.99
	Kon-Tiki Across the Pacific by Raft by Thor Heyerdahl, Translated by F. H. Lyon from Rand McNally Non-fiction/Adventure for 8th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Kon-Tiki Expedition by Thor Heyerdahl, illustrated by Eric Palmquist from Rand McNally Non-fiction/Adventure for 8th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Last of the Mohicans Reader's Digest World's Best Reading by James Fenimore Cooper from Reader's Digest Realistic Action/Adventure Novel for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Last of the Mohicans A Narrative of 1757 Leatherstocking Tales #2 by James Fenimore Cooper Reprint from Penguin Classics for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $13.00
	Last of the Mohicans Leatherstocking Tales #2 by James Fenimore Cooper Reprint from Signet Classics Realistic Action/Adventure Novel for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Last of the Mohicans Leatherstocking Tales #2 by James Fenimore Cooper, Illustrated by N. C. Wyeth from SeaWolf Press Realistic Action/Adventure Novel for 9th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW)
	Last of the Mohicans A Narrative of 1757 Leatherstocking Tales #2 by James Fenimore Cooper from Dover Publications for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Les Miserables Signet Classics by Victor Hugo, translated by Lee Fahnestock & Norman MacAfee from Signet Classics Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $11.99
	Les Miserables Modern Library by Victor Hugo, translated by Julie Rose from Modern Library Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $20.00
	Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, translated by Charles Wilbour from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $42.00
	Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, translated by Isabel F Hapgood from Fall River Press Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Les Miserables Penguin Classics by Victor Hugo, translated by Norman Denny from Penguin Classics Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, translated by Lascelles Wraxall and illustrated by Lynd Ward from Heritage Press Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, translated by Christine Donagher from Penguin Classics Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Lieutenant Hornblower Hornblower Series #2 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99
	Lord of the Rings - Hardbound Boxed Set by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 8th-12th grade in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX) $67.20
	Lord of the Rings Deluxe Hardcover Boxed Set OSI by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 5th-12th grade in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX) $125.00
	Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury from Bantam Books Science Fiction for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.00
	Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury Reprint from Simon & Schuster Macmillan Science Fiction for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.99
	My Antonia Signet Classics by Willa Cather from Signet Classics Realistic Fiction for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Odyssey by Homer (translation by Robert Fagles) from Penguin Putnam for 11th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $20.00
	Odyssey Signet Classics by Homer, prose translation by W.H.D. Rouse from Signet Classics Ancient Literature for 9th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $5.95
	Odyssey by Homer (translation by Robert Fagles) from Penguin Putnam for 11th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $17.00
	Odyssey of Homer by Homer (translation by Richmond Lattimore) from HarperCollins Ancient Literature/Epic Poetry for 9th-Adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $18.99
	Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway from Charles Scribner's Sons Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $11.19
	Out of the Silent Planet Space Trilogy Book 1 by C. S. Lewis from Charles Scribner's Sons Allegorical Science Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.00
	Out of the Silent Planet Space Trilogy Book 1 by C. S. Lewis from Charles Scribner's Sons Allegorical Science Fiction for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $24.00
	Out of the Silent Planet Space Trilogy Book 1 by C. S. Lewis 46th Printing from Collier Books for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
	Paradise Lost Penguin Classics by John Milton 2003 Revised from Penguin Classics Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in 17th Century Literature (Location: LIT4-17) $12.00
	Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard from HarperCollins Meditation/Philosophy for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $18.99
	Pride and Prejudice Penguin Classics by Jane Austen from Penguin Classics Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $9.00
	Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Illustrated by Hugh Thomson 200th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $11.95
	Return of the King Lord of the Rings #3: Deluxe Hardcover by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 8th-12th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $40.00
	Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne from Pocket Books Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $7.99
	Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne from Vintage Books Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Pearl / Sir Orfeo by Anonymous, J. R. R. Tolkien (Translator) from Ballantine Books Medieval Fairy Tale/Poetry for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.99
	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Pearl / Sir Orfeo by Anonymous, J. R. R. Tolkien (Translator) from Mariner Books Medieval Fairy Tale/Poetry for 8th-Adult in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED) $16.99
	Three Musketeers Signet Classics by Alexandre Dumas from Signet Classics Historical Fiction/Adventure for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $8.95
	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee from Warner Books Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee from Harper Perennial Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $16.99
	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 35 Anv from HarperTrophy Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult 1961 Pulitzer Prize winner in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $26.99
	Two Towers Lord of the Rings #2: Deluxe Hardcover by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 8th-12th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $40.00
	Uncle Tom's Cabin Dover Thrift Editions by Harriet Beecher Stowe from Dover Publications Realistic Fiction for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $9.00 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Watership Down by Richard Adams from Charles Scribner's Sons Animal Fiction for 7th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $19.99
	Wuthering Heights Everyman's Library by Emily Bronte from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Wuthering Heights Everyman's Library by Emily Bronte from International Collectors Library Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Illustrated by Clare Leighton from SeaWolf Press Realistic Fiction for 9th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $10.95
	Wuthering Heights with Related Readings by Emily Bronte from McGraw-Hill Realistic Fiction for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings from Simon Pulse Realistic Animal Stories for 6th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $9.99
	Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings from International Collectors Library Realistic Animal Stories for 6th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)

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