1) NORTHWEST PASSAGE, by Kenneth Roberts. A sprawling historical novel covering the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, and dominated by the marvelous character of Major Robert Rogers.

2) STUDS LONIGAN, by James T. Farrell. The book that made me want to become a writer. Actually a trilogy, and a highly naturalistic look at Chicago during the depression. If a book can be said to be teeming with life, this is one.

3)OF HUMAN BONDAGE, by Somerset Maugham. I could have put any of several of Maugham's books on this list. This one is a coming-of-age novel involving a toxic and unrequited love affair, but a beautiful book. And not as dark as it sounds.

4) GO DOWN MOSES, by William Faulkner. An episodic account of one southern family through the adventures of its offspring both black and white. Includes the much-anthologized "THE BEAR" and an early episode featuring one of the great poker games in fiction.

5) THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING, by T.H. White. The basis for the musical CAMELOT but so much more: the story of Arthur, given a modern retelling in White's beautiful, loopy, frequently hilarious treatment.

6) Le Morte D'Arthur, by Sir Thomas Malory (original medieval spelling, Le Morte Darthur). Forgive the geek aspect of this entry: I did my thesis on the legend of Merlin, and this is the best known and most complete treatment of the so-called "Matter of Arthur." Some spectacular prose if one is patient.

7)THE WIND'S TWELVE QUARTERS, by Ursula LeGuin. A story collection showing off LeGuin as a writer of wonderful fantasy or thoughtful science fiction.

8) DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, by Boris Pasternak. I am a sucker for big, weighty Russian novels with dozens of characters and sweeping storylines, and this is one. The novel actually covers a longer period of time than the events in the famous film.


9)THE KINGS IN WINTER, by Cecelia Holland. A favorite historical novelist of mine, a writer whose books cover many periods of history. This one involves the Viking Invasion of Ireland and the last High King of Ireland, Brian Boru.

10) BLEAK HOUSE, by Charles Dickens. I've read a lot of Dickens but this remains my favorite, partly because it includes the usual rich portrait of Dickens's world but a mystery and a detective as well.

11) LORD JIM, by Joseph Conrad. Conrad wrote more accessible novels, notably VICTORY and AN OUTCAST OF THE ISLANDS, but LORD JIM presents, I think, Conrad's richest, most multi-faceted portrait of a fascinating character.

12) THE CELEBRANT, by Eric Rolfe Greenburg. For my money, the greatest novel ever about baseball and the people involved in its various aspects. It is the story of the family of Jewish jewelers who, at the turn of the 20th century, manufacture the World Series rings. It is also the tale of the emergence of baseball as a national pastime, and of some of the first baseball stars. As much a historical novel as a sports tale.

13) THE ASSISTANT, by Bernard Malamud
Malamud was always in the shadow of Roth and Bellow but was a wonderful short story writer and novelist, and this simple tale of a grocer and a man down on his luck, includes a lovely romance as well.

14) BURR, by Gore Vidal. A bold, beautifully written tale of the founding of the country, told from the point of view of the charming, witty, and sardonic title character. I could easily have substituted Vidal's prize-winning novel of the Roman Empire, JULIAN.

15)THE LORD OF THE RINGS,by J.R.R. Tolkien. Still a towering work of fantasy, infused by the prodigious scholarship of its author, a tale drenched in the ancient sagas and tales in which Tolkien immersed himself.

To be continued.