Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game Short Story Now on Reading With Jimmy
The website that brings the classics to life by READING them with you adds Connell’s short story to its growing collection for readers of all ages and levels.
Palatine, IL – The website that promises “The joy of language is that it should be read aloud” and does so with classics has added Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game, an action-packed story of a big-game hunter who falls off a yacht, swims to an Island and is hunted by a Russian aristocrat.
Located at on the website, the reading is shown and read out loud in two parts, with an hour-long, in depth written analysis that is shown and also read out loud afterward.
“The Most Dangerous Game is one of the most imitated adventure stories ever,” says Jim Nowakowski (a.k.a. Jimmy). “since it was first published January 19, 1924 in Collier’s magazine. For example, Cornel Wilde’s The Naked Prey, Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Running Man and Predator, Rambo and others I’m certain found inspiration from this powerful adventure.”
The reading by Jimmy (in two parts) takes just under an hour, and the analysis that follows another hour. The analysis takes the reading apart to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the story using Aristotle’s classifications of plot, character etc. deconstructing the story to help readers’ appreciation.
“For example, fear is a heck of a motivator,” Jimmy says. “But when you’ve been the hunter your whole life and suddenly become the hunted, you feel fear – real fear — for the first time. Everyone experiences fear, and this story helps us understand exactly what that emotion is all about…how to deal with it.”
In addition to the hunting plot, the analysis also deals with the narrator’s position in storytelling; in this case, the story is told by a 3rd person narrator, which Jimmy explains as different than 1st person (in the story), helping the reader to gain a level of appreciation that a simple reading can never do.
Technique is also covered, including the language used by the narrator in evoking emotions.
“We analyze everything we read on the website,” Jimmy says. “Let’s face it: when is the last time you read a classic? Today’s reading levels are horrible, so we’re trying to change that. Some, like Hamlet, are almost impossible to read and are more difficult than Connell’s story.
But they ALL require analysis for deepening our appreciation as well as understanding of what a classic is. Because if you never read The Most Dangerous Game, you miss out on a motif that is not only repeated by authors, but repeated often in movies today. Why not start with the original?”
Besides, that’s the charm of a classic he adds. “You can read it over and over again and get more and more out of it.”
Nowakowski, who has an M.A. and B.A. in English, notes that central questions exist in every classic that lead us to examine our own motivations, the motivations of others, and then make decisions in our life. “Literature is language charged with meaning, as Ezra Pound said. It’s what’s missing in today’s society,” he adds. “You learn how others lead their lives and how to lead yours.”
The Most Dangerous Game joins a growing number (now at 24) of other classics including Lysistrata, To Build a Fire, The Diary of a Madman, A Farewell to Arms, and more. Representing over 150 hours of content, the readings can also be found on YouTube:
For more information on this or other classics, contact: Jimmy jimmy@readingwithjimmy.com
About James A. Nowakowski (aka Jimmy). James A. Nowakowski has been a business strategist, speaker, and author since starting his companies and a-i-m.com) in 1990. He taught English for 10 years in private and public schools in the Chicago area prior to that, and holds an M.A. in English from DePaul University, and a B.A. from Lewis University where he majored in English and minored in Theology and Philosophy.
For his M.A., Nowakowski passed two of his four comprehensive examinations with distinction (Renaissance and American Literature). Jim has used his classical training throughout his business career, which can be examined in his blog, Alas, poor Yorick! Do you know him?
There, Jim was invited to participate on an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) panel held by the University of Phoenix College of Humanities and Sciences on November 13, 2015. He grew his business to over twenty-five people prior to COVID and remains active in his businesses which are in Palatine, Illinois. He can be found on LinkedIn or on X at @interlinejim or email: jim@interlinegroup.com.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
