OMW! Somehow my first reply got lost! All great authors and all bar one mentioned in my post. Alexandre Dumas - I need to find and read again.
The first year of high school is the scene: 1976. My teacher, Mrs Ward, read to our class. I'd never heard of it before. It was called The Hobbit. Although my attention span was still pretty short as an 8 year old, I knew that what I was hearing my teacher read was special.
That would have been me, too, and mine have read as follows:
Primary school is the scene: probably around 1981. My teacher, Miss Chew, read to our class. I'd never heard of it before. It was called The Hobbit. I was enrapt as a 12 year old, I knew that what I was hearing my teacher read was special.
And, in our house, we have a Gandalf the Grey. Just because... I loved Gandalf.
Who doesn't love old Gandalf. He's awesome.
I think is high time that I read all three of these books again. I enjoyed writing about them and it brought that excitement back.