Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

I hope you have your desired suggestions ready for 2026 nonfiction reads or can scrounge some up. We need suggestions for NF titles to dive into next year! :)

As a reminder for members and good info for newer members:
Guidelines for NONFICTION titles still use the 50 year mark of 1976 like other areas we read in such as genres and author lists. We do allow a little flexibility here:

-- Biographies: The person(s) focused on should have passed away at least 50 years ago, although the title may have been written more recently. Example - Biographies on British writer Agatha Christie or Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong, who both died in 1976, would be acceptable. Despite what the Ai on Google might tell you, US King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley did not die until 1977, which means biographies about him would not work for our group.

-- History / Events: The history / event should have occurred at least 50 years ago, although the title may have been written more recently. Consider history and events that ended before or by 1976; the Cold War did not end until 1991.

-- General subject matter: The title should have been written at least 50 years ago. You're welcome to be creative with this one as long as the original publication date of the book is at the latest 1976.

We need 12 titles, one for each month of 2026. Suggestions need at least 3 votes.

(If you have any questions about a title that you would like to suggest, please feel free to ask here or send me a message directly if you prefer.)

Please do me the amazing favor of linking at least your title. :D If (when?) I miss a vote or have an error here, I encourage you to please respectfully let me know either in a comment or via GR message. I DO check my messages daily. (Lesle can attest to that.)

Suggestions:

XX - In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick (pulled from another suggestion thread, sent to me via Lesle)

Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell (pulled from another thread with general wonder if we could use it)

Who's Who in Greek and Roman Mythology by David Kravitz

XXXXXX - History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (not linking, because y'all...there are multiple volumes. If this gets enough votes, I'll figure out something special for it.)

XXXX - The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-45 by Milton Sanford Mayer

XXX - Etruscan Places: Travels Through Forgotten Italy by D.H. Lawrence

X - The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

X - The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary by Sarah Ogilvie

XXXXX - Klee Wyck by Emily Carr

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell

XX - Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death by Laura Cumming

X - Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources by Asser

Roughing It in the Bush by Susanna Moodie

Another suggestion: Who's Who in Greek and Roman Mythology (1975) by David Kravitz.

I apologize for being unable to link the title from my Android phone.

James wrote: "Another suggestion: Who's Who in Greek and Roman Mythology (1975) by David Kravitz."

Who's Who in Greek and Roman Mythology by David Kravitz

Thank you Rosemarie for all your fixes.

James wrote: "Thank you Rosemarie for all your fixes."

Any time!

Thanks for the assist, Rosemarie!

I suggest The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon

Melanie wrote: "I suggest The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon"

I'll second that.

I nominate The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

I'll update this tomorrow evening. Y'all are some ambitious NF readers! Keep the suggestions and votes coming.

I third Decline and Fall.

I suggest They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-45 by Milton Sanford Mayer

I suggest Etruscan Places: Travels Through Forgotten Italy by D.H. Lawrence.

Most of the editions don't have that subtitle, but I was trying to link to one that had both a page count and a description on goodreads.

Great thinking, Michelle.

I suggest 'Decline and Fall' too.

Melanie wrote: "I suggest The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon"

Samantha I have seen this set somewhere. Im thinking Project Gutenberg has it.

Im thinking it is a huge volume set. I think if I was to read it it probably be the abridged version It is over 700 pages.

I would like to support it as well.

Yes, Lesle, it is a multi-volume or there are abridged versions. I'm contemplating what to do with it and will decide based on how everything else goes with suggestions and votes.

Hi Samantha and Lesle, I had noticed that Decline and Fall is 1312 pages and The Power Broker, which we're reading in December, is 1246, so hopefully not too much more. I'm okay with whatever you decide.

Melanie, the thing is technically Decline and Fall is not ONLY over 1000 pgs. It's actually multiple books. But don't worry! If we have the votes to support it, we will do it.

That's fabulous!

support In the Heart of the Sea

suggest The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary by Sarah Ogilvie

I support The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary

I suggest Klee Wyck by Emily Carr

Emily Carr’s first book, published in 1941, was titled Klee Wyck ("Laughing One"), in honour of the name that the Native people of the west coast gave to her. This collection of twenty-one word sketches about Native people describes her visits and travels as she painted their totem poles and villages. Vital and direct, aware and poignant, it is as well regarded today as when it was first published in 1941 to instant and wide acclaim, winning the Governor General’s Award for Non-fiction. In print ever since, it has been read and loved by several generations of Canadians, and has also been translated into French and Japanese.

Kathy wrote: "I suggest Klee Wyck by Emily Carr

Emily Carr’s first book, published in 1941, was titled Klee Wyck ("Laughing One"), in honour of the name that the Native people of th..."


I've seen Emily Carr's paintings and did not realise she was an author.

How interesting.

I support Klee Wyck

I support Klee Wyck! Sounds really interesting.

Pam wrote: "I support Klee Wyck! Sounds really interesting."

I've read it-it is.

All votes and suggestions marked as of 7:26 pm CDT Sept 29th.

We could use more suggested titles, and we can always use more support to read listed titles! Plenty to consider for your 2026 classic nonfiction reads. Remember, even if the title is not technically a classic by its publication date, we are still reading ABOUT classics - events and people.

I support The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell

The Nazis considered Virginia Hall the "most dangerous of all Allied spies," yet the story of the "Limping Lady" is largely unknown today. Hall spent nearly the entire war in France, first as a spy for Britain's newly formed Special Operations Executive (SOE) and later for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Special Operations Branch. Even her cumbersome wooden prosthetic leg, which she nicknamed Cuthbert, proved no obstacle to Hall's courage and determination to defeat the Nazis.

I nominate A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf.

I suggest Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death by Laura Cumming

Based on life of Vermeer in 1654,

And The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal

Based on the life of The Brownings ( Robert browning and his wife Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

I support Thunderclap- great idea!

Nidhi, The Swan's Nest doesn't seem to be nonfiction or is it just tagged inaccurately here?

Oh yes, it is fiction, I thought it is biographical hence non fiction, sorry.

I support Thunderclap.

Klee Wyck (03) by Carr, Emily Paperback (2004)

and Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo

Also does ornithology books count ot are they under wilderness:

The Peregrine by J.A. Baker

I wanted to read more bird/animal and travel studies so does that come under this section?

I nominate The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (1960-61) by William Shirer.

Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources by Asser

Roughing It in the Bush by Susanna Moodie

Jen wrote: "I support Thunderclap- great idea!

Nidhi, The Swan's Nest doesn't seem to be nonfiction or is it just tagged inaccurately here?"

Thank you for catching that, Jen! Much appreciated.

James wrote: "I nominate A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf."

James, we actually read this as part of our 2020 NF reads. You are welcome to look back over the archived discussion and add to it there. :)

James wrote: "I nominate The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (1960-61) by William Shirer."

We read this back in August of 2023. It is also archived but open to comments still. You have great suggestions to the point that we've already read them! With so many ideas rolling in, I am trying to avoid repeated just yet.

Tracey wrote: "Klee Wyck (03) by Carr, Emily Paperback (2004)

and Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo

Also does ornithology books count ot are they under wilderness:

The Per..."</i>

I will consult with Lesle and other mods about [book:The Peregrine.

Tracey wrote: "Also does ornithology books count ot are they under wilderness:
The Peregrine by J.A. Baker..."

Tracey The Peregrine has already been suggested for the Wilderness Series. If you would like to put your supporting vote there it would be appreciated.

Link for ease:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks for solving that, Lesle!

I'll support In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

The Country Diary of the Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden (could also be under wilderness). Let me know and I will put this and the Peregrine under that. Thank you all you super mods :)

I've never read two of the classics that I suggested. Because the other one that I suggested (Who's Who in Greek and Roman Mythology), which came out in my 12th-birthday year, though in dictionary form, lists fictional people, is it considered nonfiction?

Tracey wrote: "The Country Diary of the Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden (could also be under wilderness). Let me know and I will put this and the Peregrine under that. Thank you all you super mods :)"

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden would be an excellent choice for the Wilderness series!
Thank you Tracey for your kind words. We do have such great and understanding Moderators in our group NTLTRC :)

I support Etruscan Places.

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir