A Year of Classics Theme & Reading List

Solitude

Solitude is a paradox. It is a state that can be freely chosen or imposed against one’s will; it can be met with pleasure or through pain. For some, it is the necessary condition of a reflective life, while for others it is something to be overcome or resisted. Solitude can take place in genuine isolation or through a loneliness experienced even when surrounded by others. When should we seek solitude and when should we seek community? How do we find the balance? What are the rewards and the risks, what is the beauty and what is broken when we find ourselves truly alone? 

Reading List for 2025–26