Are the Classics Unconditionally Good?

    Despite being one of the largest genres of books, or maybe because of this, the Classics have very little in common. While genres like Romance and Sci-Fi/Fantasy are also pretty loosely related, they've still got certain common themes, settings, and tropes that bind them together. Fiction is the only other section that can compare in its lack of cohesion, but when you go to browse the shelves of a fiction section you already know it'll be a grab bag. When you're browsing the classics, though, there's the expectation that no matter what you pick up you're in for some sort of Great Literary Experience. I mean, they're the classics for a reason, right?

     When I was vacationing abroad last year, I had to put this theory to the test. I had finished the book I packed and was looking for something to read when I found myself in a used books market. Being in he Netherlands, most of the books were in Dutch, but there was one stall with a bunch of Penguin Classics in English. While there were plenty of titles I was familiar with, there were even more titles that were new to me. And so, standing in front of all these classics, I picked one of these I was unfamiliar with based on everyone's favorite metric for judging a book: it's cover. 

    I left the market with a copy of Evelyn Waugh's "Unconditional Surrender," a slim paperback with a lovely line art illustration of a soldier on a beach. I had skimmed the back of the book & it seemed interesting enough, though I did not read closely enough to realize that the book was the third installment of a trilogy. With limited reading material on hand I had no choice but to read the book anyways, and I'm glad I did because the book was quite lovely.

    The entire Sword of Honour trilogy follows Guy Crouchback, a soldier in the British Army during World War II who has enlisted with the hopes of finding purpose in the fight against the Nazis. By the time we get to the events of "Unconditional Surrender," Guy has lost the idealism that led him to join up in the first place. On top of that his aging body can't keep up with the demands of the front lines, so Guy is forced to take up a desk job. There are a number of other plot threads in the mix, from issues with Guy's father to a will-they-won't-they sort of relationship. Despite not having the context of the first two books, I still found these to be interesting plot threads with compelling, multi-faceted characters, though I couldn't help but feeling like I would've appreciated everything even more had I read the full book. "Unconditional Surrender" is also a satirical novel, and goes about skewering the bureaucratic realities of war with great wit and humor. 

    This is just one example of a time when picking a Classic at random paid of, but I can think of other examples too. Whether I branched out and read something from an author I'd never heard of or found a more obscure title from a familiar face, it's rare that I walk away from a "Classic" feeling less than rewarded for my time. I guess there really is a reason why we've chosen to preserve some of these texts for thousands of years after all.

It's Time to Revisit the Classics

Perhaps many of us were introduced to classic books and stories at an early age. Parents often start by reading traditional picture books to their young children, including titles such as Goodnight Moon and favorites such as Dr. Seuss books, the Winnie-the-Pooh collection, and more. Then it’s on to middle grade readers and titles such as E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables, and more.

It’s generally during the high school years when most of us are introduced to the novels considered as classics for assigned and required reading. Students get their first taste of classic novels such as J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and many others. But perhaps there’s something about being a high school student and required reading that can take all the fun out of the sheer pleasure of reading a story - especially a classic novel that may seem old and antiquated to a high school student, unless of course you’re Rory Gilmore and then that’s a completely different story altogether. Things haven’t changed much. As students go back to the classroom, they’re looking for their required reading - The Classics. 

Once an adult and post school years, the classics are no longer required reading. But that doesn’t mean that these gems aren’t being read. In fact, according to the New York Public Library’s website, The 10 Most Borrowed Books of All Time at the New York Public Library include classics such as The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, George Orwell’s 1984, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury top the list. And classic novels are considered classic for a reason. 

Just what makes a novel a classic? You might think it’s because it’s written by a particular author, or because it was written a long time ago. Or perhaps it’s because it’s a story that covers certain subject matter. But according to publishing giant, Pan Macmillan, in a blog post entitled, What Makes a Classic?, by Harriett Sanders, a classic novel is described as a book that has stood the test of time because it’s so good. Sanders further states a classic novel has “a gripping story that’s expertly crafted and brilliantly expressed.”

Lately the classics have gained popularity even finding their way to both the big and small screens. Blockbusters such as Homer’s The Odyssey, and Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, along with television shows such as the upcoming adaptation of Steinbeck’s East of Eden, and the Public Broadcasting Station’s adaptation of Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo, and more, have gained both readers and viewing audiences alike for their timeless stories, themes, and mass appeal. 

With my own goal to read more classics, I recently picked up Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. It was interesting giving the reader insight into the way mental health was viewed and treated years ago when the book was written compared to how mental health is viewed and treated today. The next classic on my list is John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. I hope to read it before the Netflix seven-episode miniseries begins streaming October 1.

How many classics have you read for leisure and fun or to expand your knowledge since your days as a student? When you’re ready to dive into your next classic novel, Eagle Eye Book Shop has a robust selection of both Children’s Classics and Classic Novels for your next read. And while we know our customers have an eagle eye for good books, our knowledgeable booksellers are here to help you find the particular version or translation of the classic novel you’re looking for.