"Classic" books

A classic book is one that outlives its generation and is enjoyed by many following generations.

Austen, Dicken, Scott, Trollope, Elliott, to name but a few 19th century classics.

Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, are two who immediately come to mind as 29th century writers who have survived and will continue to.

A classic book doesn't have to be written by a great writer, but their writing must have an afterlife of several generations.

Agatha Christie started writing about 100 years ago. My father enjoyed her books, I do, my daughter does and now my 14year old DGD has discovered them with enthuisiasm. That is 4 generations.

And Louisa May Alcott`s books as well, Little Women, etc. I loved them aged 11, and still enjoy them now.

A classic book to me is written by a great writer such as Tolstoy, Eliot, the Bronte’s etc, A work of genius unsurpassed by anyone.
Popular classics would be Christie, Spark and others who remain popular but do not attain the heights mentioned above.
Sir Walter Scott wrote classics, but hardly anyone reads them now and that is true for many ‘classic’ novels.

I would agree with some of the ones mentioned and would add Thomas Hardy to the 19th century authors.

Modern classics for future generations might be authors such as Sebastion Faulks, Elizabeth Strout, Jeanette Winterson, Margaret Atwood, etc. Also what about authors such as Chandler, Maugham, Greene, Twain , I feel they will always be read.

I think there is a difference between classic authors whose writing is admired and do travel down generations, but which few people read. Chaucer, Milton, Scott and classic authors whose writing may be of no greatmerit but who write books that people enjoy reading.

I have seen a list recently, that is based on UNESCO statistics and liste the top 40 authors by the number of different languages they have been translated, which is a good guide to universal appeal.

In order of number of languages they have been translated into Agatha Christie heads the list, 2< Jules Verne, 3< Enid Blyton, 4<William Shakespear, 5< Barbara Cartland, 6< Danielle Steele, 7<Hans Christian Anderson, 8< Steven King, 9< Grimm Brothers, 10< Mark Twain.

TwiceAsNice neither Chandler, Maugham or Greene feature on the list.

I think we need to be clear what we mean by a classic. To me it doesn't necessarily mean a book of recognised literary merit, with a small, but persistent following. It means a book that is widely read (including in other countries) continually down several generations, where most people are likely to have heard of the writer and have easy access to a copy of the book.

I think the authors listed by number of languages they are translated into is as good a start as any.

It is personal choice, but the fact that a book is widely read does not make it classic literature. Danielle Steele for example only belongs on a list of best selling popular novels. Classic she is not. Jackie Collins also was not writing classic literature and would not have considered herself part of that canon.
A best selling world wide list is not a good guide to classic works.

BTW I’m reading Edith Wharton “The Reef”. A wonderful writer and always on the classics shelf.

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JRR Tolkien, Kenneth Grahame, Iris Murdoch

Goodness M0nica, that is an interesting list. So are the examples of 'classics'. I think I'd agree that a broadly useful definition is one that stands the test of time. Here's mine:

Jane Austen
Charlotte M. Yonge
Sheridan Lefanu
Wilkie Collings
Beatrix Potter
Ursula LeGuin
Tove Jansson

My all time favourite is Anita Brookner but I love an Aga saga so just 're reading all Joanna Trollope.

As with art being in the eye of the beholder, it's subjective. What one considers to be a classic may not be to another.

I agree with the definition of a classic book as given by M0nica but if we drew up a list each there would I'm sure be differences between them.

Books being over 100 years old, a bit like an antique . When I was younger I was into poetry books, Browning, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth etc. At school I used to find the classic books boring but do have a few on my kindle which I havent gor around to reading.

I would have to think long and hard before I gave the status of classic simply because it was widely read. Otherwise that Shades of Grey and the Daily Mail might qualify. To my mind a classic has a quality which engages with its readers to such an extent that it is read and reread and rarely forgotten. It is usually associated with pleasure for its pure uniqueness and stays with the reader as a lifelong companion. My companions are Little Women and Good Wives, War and Peace, Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights,
Great Expectations, Jane Eyre and All The Light We Cannot See. Everyone will have their own list for it’s an emotional as well as an intellectual connection.

Back in the 60s and 70s Penguin were publishing Modern Classics including people like Aldous Huxley, H.G.Wells and Dorothy L Sayers I think. I think quite a few of these would now be seen as Classics.

Well Enid Blyton is still being read by children 70 years later. Unfortunately her style leaves a bit to be desired, but the exciting adventures will always go down well with children. And children love the idea of another imaginary world living side by side with the real world. Enid Blyton did it with her Faraway Tree and J K Rowling with her wizard world.

For me as well a classic is one which is read by succeeding generations. Not necessarily a work of great literary merit. My list would include Dickens, Alcock, Christie, Austen, Sayers, Rowling, Sansom

Classic books are very informative and entertaining. I love it.

I gave over 2000 books to the local high school when their library was burned down ,but there were three I couldn't part with,These have been with me all my adut life and been read time and time again,
To Kill A Mockingbird -Harper Lee
Ullysses -James Joyce
Trinity -Leon Uris,and a book that we read in high school thats a play Our Town by Thornton Wilder .
I saw Our Town in The Minnack theatre a few years ago and it was a magical experience

I had forgotten Leon Uris paddyann. I read Exodus in my teens and it made a huge impression on me. I really must read his books again.

Hollysteers Danielle Steele and Joan Collins are modern authors not classic authors. A classic author is one whose book has been passed down between two, and preferably three generations.

Literary merit is irrelevant - except that most classic author's books are usually beautifully written. Compared with Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie writes clearly and competently, but DS writes beautiful literary prose. For AC it her plots are gripping even if her characters are abit threadbare.

Kenneth Grahame - Wind in the Willows
H. G. Wells - The Time Machine, War of the Worlds.
John Buchan - The 39 Steps
Wilkie Collins - The moonstone.

19thC, I’d add Three Men In A Boat (Jerome K. Jerome)

I’ll ditto The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Girls of Slender Means (also MS)
I Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith)
How Green Was My Valley (can’t remember the author)
Cider With Rosie (Laurie Lee)

Lots more I can’t think of ATM

Good list Witzend, I Capture the Castle is one of my absolute favourite books. I like a bit of parody, and another one I’d add is Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons.
When there was a discussion a few months ago about restarting a Gransnet book club, I also read The Machine Stops by EM Forster. It’s haunted me ever since, his perception of the future was astounding.
For me, a classic book has to have something that makes it stand out so it sticks in my mind for a long time, and crucially I have to want to re-read it.