Why read the Classics #2

The authors tone is very important in writing. It is the voice of the author and what keeps the reader involved in the story. I think Italo Calvino does an excellent job of keeping the reader interested and involved with the story. Unlike Nabokov, Calvino admires other's works. He had a high regard for the works the Odyssey and Fathers and Sons (Calvino 7) He says people "reincarnate" their characters to right down to our own times. In my opinion he says this because the works are good. Calvino says intelligent things such as giving definitions for why we read the classics. the definitions help the reader understand why Calvino thinks classics are important. One of my personal favorites is number thirteen, "A classic is a work which relegates the noise of the present to a background hum, which at the same time the classics cannot exist" I like this quote because you can tell Calvino cares about the classics and how they affect a reader. I prefer Calvino tone over Nabokov tone because Calvino is very nice with his words and his tone. He compliments others work instead of criticizing them. Overall I think Clavino succeeds in trying to interest the reader with his tone.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." The Uses of Literature. New York: Vintage Books, 1999