A Classical Education
Discover the best books for a classical education. Explore timeless works in literature, philosophy, and history to cultivate wisdom and critical thinking.
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Witness
by Whittaker Chambers
The author recounts the forces that shaped his life, describes his involvement with the Communist Party, and explains the reasons for his identification of Alger Hiss as a Communist agent.
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Animal Farm and 1984
by George Orwell
George Orwell's classic satire on totalitarianism in which farm animals overthrow their human owner and set up their own government is accompanied by "1984," his portrayal of life in a future time when a totalitarian government watches over all citizens a
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The Wealth of Nations
by Adam Smith
Presents a statement and defense of capitalist economics, first published in the late eighteenth century by Scottish scholar Adam Smith.
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The Prince
by Niccolò Machiavelli
Special Student Edition has a special margin on each page to allow students to make notations. Complete translated text with an introduction on the life of Machiavelli.
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Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo
In this major new rendition by the acclaimed translator Julie Rose, Victor Hugo’s tour de force, Les Misérables, is revealed in its full unabridged glory. A favorite of readers for nearly 150 years, and the basis for one of the most beloved stage musicals ever, this stirring tale of crime, punishment, justice, and redemption pulses with life and energy. Hugo sweeps readers from the French provinces to the back alleys of Paris, and from the battlefield of Waterloo to the bloody ramparts of Paris during the uprising of 1832. First published in 1862, this sprawling novel is an extravagant historical epic that is teeming with harrowing adventures and unforgettable characters. In the protagonist, Jean Valjean, a quintessential prisoner of conscience who languished for years in prison for stealing bread to feed his starving family, Les Misérables depicts one of the grand themes in literature–that of the hunted man. Woven into the narrative are the prevalent social issues of Hugo’s day: injustice, authoritarian rule, social inequality, civic unrest. And this new translation brings astonishing vivacity and depth to Hugo’s immortal dramatis personae–the relentless police detective Javert, the saintly bishop Myriel, the tragic prostitute Fantine and her innocent daughter, Cosette, the dashing lover Marius, and many others whom Jean Valjean encounters on his path to sublime sacrifice. Featuring an Introduction by the award-winning journalist and author Adam Gopnik, this Modern Library edition is an outstanding, authoritative translation of a masterpiece, a literary high-wire act that continues to astonish, stimulate, enlighten, and entertain readers around the world.
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The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
by Samuel P. Huntington
Based on the author's seminal article in Foreign Affairs, Samuel P. Huntington's The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order is a provocative and prescient analysis of the state of world politics after the fall of communism. In this incisive work, the renowned political scientist explains how "civilizations" have replaced nations and ideologies as the driving force in global politics today and offers a brilliant analysis of the current climate and future possibilities of our world's volatile political culture.
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Inferno
by Dante
Translated by Anthony Esolen Illustrations by Gustave Doré A groundbreaking bilingual edition of Dante’s masterpiece that includes a substantive Introduction, extensive notes, and appendixes that reproduce Dante’s key sources and influences.
