The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.2758  Thursday, 6 December 2001

From:           Dan Smith <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Wednesday, 5 Dec 2001 16:10:05 -0000
Subject: 12.2745 Re: Eighth Wonder of the Literary World?
Comment:        Re: SHK 12.2745 Re: Eighth Wonder of the Literary World?

I agree with Bob Grumman that lists of literary works that aim to
conclusively decide which is 'the fairest of them all' are silly.  I
should perhaps admit to still being cross about a similar list of the
best films which formed part of a lengthy television show on Channel 4
and was widely reported here (the best film ever made was Star Wars).
The problem with this is that excellence, like beauty, is in the eye of
the beholder.  All such lists say more about us than about the works in
question; they are determined by who you ask and when.  Colly Cibber's
emendations of RIII were thought to improve the original for a long time
(does anybody still think that?).

Dan Smith

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