Depth and Brilliance
Some books never wear out their welcome. Auerbach's in depth exploration of selected passages from late Roman times to the early 20th century joins their ranks by providing powerful insight into the ways in which Western authors have sought to mirror reality over a millenium and a half. I found his comments on the radical shift in perspective originating in the Christian Bible to be especially thought-provoking, since they demonstrate a movement toward portraying quite ordinary people as being proper subjects of serious drama.