Well, Ross, you may feel ever so enriched by your extensive readings of the classics. However, your list is entirely limited to male authors. In the tradition of earlier times, women had almost no public literary or artistic voice with which they could reflect on their own experiences.

This is the big failing of the classics, in that they reflect the 'human condition', but only through the eyes of one half of humanity.

Kilarney, who wrote 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'? If more women writers had contributed classical works I'd have read them too.

'However, your list is entirely limited to male authors. In the tradition of earlier times, women had almost no public literary or artistic voice with which they could reflect on their own experiences.

This is the big failing of the classics, in that they reflect the 'human condition', but only through the eyes of one half of humanity.'

It is not our fault that this has occurred. Harriet Beecher Stowe refutes your inference understanding the human condition is different for men and women. It isn't. The quality of her work is timeless and genderless. Classical literature is mostly genderless in it's lessons. They apply to all humanity not just to men or to women

If traditions don't change in the future then that will be the responsibility of all of us and of the women writers who fail to write to the standard of Stowe and of the classics.

'(Johnson's) advice to be content with being discontent and relish the feeling on an unfulfilled desire as more enjoyable than its satisfaction...'

Such has been the way of the world for generations past. As it was and is the desire of many of those who question the inequalities and inequities of their times in their desire to achieve change.

Such has occurred with women's equality. Equality that has began to be achieved throughout the last two centuries. Stowe was part of that. It continues today. Those facts enhance the value of the classics. They don't diminish them.

There was a time when only the works of the ancient Greeks were seen as classical. That changed as humanity grew in understanding and intellect and realised no one group, whether by class, education or nationality held all truth. Women are another group. It is w9idely accepted women do hold some of the truth. It is correct to say women have not traditionally contributed to the great conversation, but equally it is true to say they now have an increased and equal opportunity to contribute.