In the early 1980s, Holy Cross faculty compiled a list of 100 books that are arguably some of the fundamental classics of Western literature and beyond. That list is now online for you to explore.
Browse the Holy Cross 100 Book List »
Introduction: A Shared Enthusiasm
July 1983 -- This list is born out of a shared enthusiasm for reading and out of the conviction that a love for books is at the heart of both a liberal education and a happy life.
The project took root two years a go in informal conversations after introductory meets with faculty after I arrived at Holy Cross, and developed gradually—along with other larger and smaller projects, from the new curriculum to the expanding of the paperback section in the book store—as the conversations continued. From the beginning, this has never been either a list of the 100 "greatest" classics, or an artificially "balanced" list representing the various academic disciplines, centuries, countries or literary, philosophical or religious traditions.
Yet, we did try to have it reflect in some ways, the intellectual climate of Holy Cross today: these are books our faculty enjoy—that they care enough about to recommend and write about with confidence that the larger Holy Cross community—students, fellow-faculty, parents, alumni and friends—can pick up these books and share in the same discovery.
Each of us will find in these essays his or her own unifying themes. These struck me: an emphasis on the fundamental classics of Western literature, works which could well give a unifying thread to anyone's education; an emphasis on the search for God as the central task of anyone’s life: a commitment to the struggle for a just society.
How were the 100 chosen? First each member of the committee drew up a personal 100 list, which we combined and chiseled down to Version One. This we published in the Crusader and circulated to all the faculty for suggested changes. From over 400 titles we settled on about 95, the circulated the list again to a few faculty for more suggestions. Finally, we wrote to various faculty members and one alumnus-author, asking for the brief essays. In all, over 75 members of the Holy Cross community have contributed, in one way or another, to the list. I will always remember them with gratitude and I suspect that you, as you read on, will also.
Raymond A Schroth, S.J.
Dean of the College
July, 1983
Browse the Holy Cross 100 Book List »
The Committee
Eckhard Bernstein
John Esposito
Theodore P. Fraser
Robert H. Garvey
James Hogan
David Hummon
Thomas M.C. Lawler
Raymond A. Schroth, S.J.