In local bookshops, literary classics can be found, but bundled with "critical analyses". To Buy or not to buy

Question

Should I buy the books I want to read alongwith a running commentary and EXPLANATORY notes by some idiot (Oops! Sorry... an intelligent CRITIC, if you will)??

Or should I buy 'em from the internet? With a better publicating house and costlier purchase?

Publishing House*

Answer 1

It all depends on your interests. If you're in it just for the text alone. You want to read the 'classic' and don't care about reading any analysis at all (and really I don't know why you would seek that out just for fun anyway) then go with whatever is most affordable with some exceptions. It depends if you want paperback or hardback. Or if you want large print or small print. Or if you care how thick or thin your paper is. But really the text will be the same. For that matter, if you're still exploring which classics and which authors you like, you might want to read it from the library before spending any money.

Answer 2

It is never a good thing to purchase a book full of analysis, footnotes, marginalia that tends to distract your attentions from the authors intent. It would be like going to diner with a fine conversationalist and having someone explaining the significances of every word said. Very few books, even the classics, are so dense that they are unreadable without supplementary assistance.

I suggest you get a clean copy that has empty margins that allow plenty of room for you to provide your own annotations. Read once for meaning and a second for understanding. Then when you have made your own assessment of the merit of the book - you can feel free to appraoch the scholars to compare notes!