This is not your father's list of classics. In these delightful essays, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Dirda introduces nearly ninety of the world's most entertaining books. Writing with affection as well as authority, Dirda covers masterpieces of fantasy and science fiction, horror and adventure, as well as epics, history, essay, and children's literature. Organized thematically, these are works that have shaped our imaginations. "Love's Mysteries" moves from Sappho and Arthurian romance to Soren Kierkegaard and Georgette Heyer. In other categories Dirda discusses not only "Dracula" and "Sherlock Holmes" but also the Tao Te Ching and Icelandic sagas, Frederick Douglass and Fowler's "Modern English Usage". Whether writing about Petronius or Perelman, Dirda makes literature come alive. "Classics for Pleasure" is a perfect companion for any reading group or lover of books.

迈克·德达(Michael Dirda)，生于1948年，1978年起为《华盛顿邮报图书世界》(Waahtngton Poaz Book World)担任编辑和撰稿人，1993年获得普利策奖(Pulitzer Prize)。

王艺，1960年生，江苏东海人。中国艺术研究院美术学博士、武汉大学经济学博士。文化部青联中国书法篆刻艺术委员会副主任，北京印社监事、社员，北京市书法家协会会员。现任北京时代美术馆馆长，兼任南京审汁学院教授、西安交通大学中国能源经济研究所研究员等职。