The Classical Literature Club  is welcoming new members

It was about 15 years ago when I found a book of short stories by Tsjechov. I always imagined those old novels would be out of date and hard to read. On the contrary. Tsjechov’s stories are precious and very funny. He writes about people like you and me with all our flaws. Then I read Pnin by Nabokov. About an absent-minded professor. The story is hilarious. I read all the books by the sisters Brontë. The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald.

I started thinking: ‘I’m probably not the only person who loves reading those classics.’

On the app Meet-Up  I found the Classical Literature Club. An international group of people of all ages hosted by an Englishman who was living not very far away from IJburg. So my neighbor, who’s also a classical literature lover, and I joined the club a couple of years ago. Through the years we found some jewels and pearls of the world literature. Generally easy to read. Often full of humor and history. Not every member speaks Dutch so the main language is English. What we all have in common is our love of language and classical literature.

Reading classical literature is like stepping into a magical time-machine.

Our host moved to Spain but he still joins us through Zoom. A lot of members travelled on. Our club is still alive and kicking but we’d like to welcome new members. We get together at my neighbors house on Steigereiland-Zuid.  Once a month. We discuss the book but sometimes other subjects are talked about too. We don’t have strict rules. We just want to share our love and admiration for those great classics and the relevance they still have in our time. And the pleasure of reading those masterpieces that shouldn’t be forgotten. 

If you’re interested and would like more information. My name is Hettie de Korte. E-mail: diplomaat.dekorte@gmail.com