What are some big reading projects?

[ficbot]

I have been thinking of reading the Harvard Classics, but then I found the Everyman's Library at Manybooks and it has a selection that appeals to me slightly more. And over 100 titles available!

There were some other 'big projects' available, some of which interested me:

The Chronicles of Canada (32 vols)
Lives of Eminent Painters (10 vols)
Great Men and Famous Women (7 vols)
English Men of Letters (36 vols)
Makers of History (31 vols; not all available)
Library of the World's Best Literature (16 vols; not all available)
Newberry Winners (12 available)

So, what other many-volume big reading series type things can you think of? I am especially interested in the kind that implies you will get a 'well-rounded education' if you read the whole lot.

[ardeegee]

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night by Sir Richard Burton comes to mind. The original publication was 10 volumes. It has been published in various numbers of volumes in various editions since then. I have one of the 3 volume sets like this one on ebay-- but I haven't came even remotely close to reading all of it.

[mrsquash]

The Great Books of the Western World series by Encyclopædia Britannica and the University of Chicago was big in its day. I bought a set of them about 40 years ago and got quite a bit of use out of them. I'd imagine that everything in them is available for free online these days, but the accessory volumes, The Great Conversation and The Syntopicon, were quite good. Excellent quality and binding, still available on ebay last time I looked (several years ago).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_B..._Western_World

[toomanybooks]

The entire 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica is my project for next year. I don't think that its really doable but I'll try.

[SteveK]

Ficbot - First some information, then a question:

1. Gutenberg does appear to have all 31 volumes of the "Makers of History" series you mention above.

2. I searched on Manybooks.net, and was unable to find any information regarding the "Everyman's Library" you mention. Do you have a link?

I always enjoy reading your posts here and on Teleread, as it's very obvious you are a prolific reader.

Thanks.
SteveK

[Gronk]

Originally Posted by SteveK

Ficbot - First some information, then a question:

2. I searched on Manybooks.net, and was unable to find any information regarding the "Everyman's Library" you mention. Do you have a link?

Thanks.
SteveK

Try this Link

[issybird]

How about The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant? It's the 11-volume history of the West starting with Asian origins and ending with the Napoleon. It was highly popular at one point; people used to acquire them as the sign-on bonus to book clubs by mail. You'd see them proudly displayed on bookshelves in people's homes, presumably as a sign of their erudition or at aspirations along those lines, since I suspect they mostly went unread.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night by Sir Richard Burton comes to mind. The original publication was 10 volumes. It has been published in various numbers of volumes in various editions since then. I have one of the 3 volume sets like this one on ebay-- but I haven't came even remotely close to reading all of it.

I prefer the Payne translation, myself but yeah... I love these stories!