What is a Classic Book?

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Disclaimer - This video is not sponsored. All opinions and ideas are my own. Any links to The Book Depository are affiliate links.

[inanimatecarbongod]

The point about how the definition of "modern classic" in particular shifts with time and fashion is a good one. In chronological terms, George Orwell is a lot closer to writers like Thomas Hardy (who was, you know, still writing poetry whe Orwell was in his 20s) or Emile Zola or Anthony Trollope or Mark Twain than he is to us. You have to wonder at what point he becomes a "classic" without qualification as opposed to "merely" a modern one. (Or does he indeed become one at all? How many people care about or indeed know of his books that aren't 1984 or even Animal Farm?) Or someone like Fitzgerald whose first book came out in 1920 and so is chronologically closer to Dickens and the Bronte sisters than us...


And HELL YES to the opening statement about classics not being a genre. From what I've seen of Booktube a lot of people seem to view "classics" that way, and I think that's a fundamental misunderstanding. It's a publishing category and marketing designation, and if you think of it as a genre it's actually a kind of meaningless term (even when referring to actually classical Greek/Roman literature).

[LuminousLibro]

God bless this video!! So much of this needed to be said, and you explain it very well. It annoys me that people don't differentiate between classics and MODERN classics, and that people don't consider the genre of the classic. There's so much more to classics than people realize! Happy REading!

[CarlB_]

Thanks for this clear, concise and very helpful perspective on classics.

[dannigreen]

Thank you for (continually) pointing out that classics are not a genre but a designation we give to literature. Every genre has a classic. For example, It by Stephen King is a classic horror novel, as well as Murder on the Orient Express is a classic of the mystery genre. I find myself having a similar discussion when people say they love YA. YA is not a genre, but rather a demographic. The Hunger Games belongs to the same genre as The Handmaid's Tale. They are both belonging to the subgenre of Sci-fi known as dystopian. YA, adult fiction, and Children's books are such because they deal with the lives and accounts of their respective demographics (generally speaking). Anyway, I mention that to say that I think it is important for people to be aware of what a genre is and is not.

[mcrbus]

Such a fantastic discussion! I've always found it strange that classics are spoke of as a genre but then the books in a classic section will span so many different genres from romance to horror

[christopherborroughs]

Great video! I've been attempting more classics this year than ever before; I've read Pride and Prejudice, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, The Wind in the Willows, and Agnes Grey so far. I'm currently reading O Pioneers (mainly because of your positive review) and enjoying it.

[SamanthaPajor]

For me, I think of the line between classics and modern classics as world war 1.

[paulreads]

We just celebrated Martin Luther king day here in the states so I decided to read To sir with love to see a snapshot of a time and place I didn't know about and I loved seeing a glimpse into that time and consider this a classic as it was published in 1958 and has themes we struggle with today.

[BaileeWalsh]

I think of the end of WWII/the beginning of the Cold War, basically the '50s until about 1990 as modern classics. Then, from the '90s to now as contemporary classics or soon-to-be/future classics.

[SpinstersLibrary]

For the purposes of my own personal statistics, I consider anything published before 1960 a classic, but I agree there is a lot more to that, especially when it comes to more obscure 19th century books, or lesser known works of popular authors. - Claudia

[vagingo]

Classics, to me, are books that stay relevant regardless of age.

[circusofdamned]

Loved tgis video and the ideas you talked about regarding classics and what they are. And that there is a classic for every taste if you want to find one. Though reading classics isn't nessesary or required when readig for pleasure. And I love that message and the idea you stated. It was great thanks for making this video.

[bookreview]

Great video! I can only agree with what you said.

[krissyn.]

Great topic! This was an interesting video. I have many traditional classics on my shelf that I have been intimidated to pick up. This video has renewed my interest!

[Analog]

Wow....loved this video. I completely agree with you on all the points you made. I have always loved classics even when they were being forced upon us in school. Though at that time, as you said it was more of work and less of enjoyment. Hence, I re-read most of them after my schooling and I did enjoy them more as I was not being made to breakdown stuff. I really like this initiative by Persephone publishers where they are publishing books from not so popular female authors. I have read few like Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and then some works from Monica Dickens and I quite enjoyed them.
Once again great video 😊

[MayCho]

I loved this one, Lesley! I agree that classics are subjective, but like most people in the comment section, a classic to me is a book that is universal and timeless. I used to think it as a genre (like how I used to think YA is a genre), but really, it's just a classification/category. Love your discussion videos! <3

[sabahfatema]

What do you say to the view that classics are difficult to read, at least comparably so? They certainly seem to be more long winded and dense than a lot of the new fiction coming out. Why is that though? Is it because of a age and style thing?

[llaheys]

I was wondering what people felt helped them understand the writing in some classics? I've tried a couple Austens and every one has been completely indecipherable to me. I cannot figure out what information is being conveyed by the sentences (like Sense and Sensibility, I could not keep the characters straight enough to get to page 5). Alternately, are there classics that are easy to read?

[karenkoutsoumbaris]

Thankyou for the great info, I never realized there were so many to be considered a classic

[sabahfatema]

Ooh, do you think a ya book could be considered classic in the future?