cjacklen's "Classic Literature Challenge 2007"

Here is my version of a basic reading list of the classics; hopefully, by the time I am done, I will understand most of the references to Machiavelli, Cervantes, Homer, and others I see in many contemporary novels. I hope to finish the list by the end of 2007, but I am not holding my breath. Either way, when I am finished I plan to make another list in order to fill in some of the holes in this one.

The list is actually four lists of 25 each: first introductory literature, like you might read in high school, then American lit, then British lit, then world lit; all in alphabetical order by author. I am willing to consider suggestions; I haven’t read anything of literary value in about 10 years and my memory is a bit fuzzy about what’s out there.