Does Anyone Read The ‘Classics’ Any More?

[naomi24]

This question was prompted by someone asking for book recommendations.  I have a friend who's an avid reader but has never read the Brontes, Dickens, Jane Austen, etc, and sticks solely to current novels.  Have you read the 'oldies' - and if not, why not?  I don't understand why anyone wouldn't.  They've all stood the test of time so they must have quite a lot going for them.

[Canary42]

/// I guess it may be to do with thinking novels are a waste of time, irrelevant in today's world,///

That's precisely what I thought in my younger days. Then in late middle age I studied E Lit with the OU, and found out differently. Even very ancient fiction like The Iliad had its place.

[Spungle]

Yes, I'm sure it's true Canary, but whether I can bring myself to sit down and take in "The Iliad" is another story.  I think impatience and lack of self discipline probably has a lot to do with it!

 

[Canary42]

////  I used to enjoy Thomas Hardy a lot though not many others did. ////

Hardy can be very depressing with a rather pessimistic outlook on the human condition, for example :-

Heroine ending up on the scaffold (Tess of the D'Urbervilles)

A child murdering his siblings "Done because we are too menny [sic]" (Jude the Obscure).

In fact, Jude's whole life seems perpetual misery.  Hardy apparently denied any autobiographical content, although some critics thought otherwise.

[jourdain2]

Even bookworms like me find some Hardy unreadable, Canary.

[davebro3]

I haven't read any books for ages. I think modern media (TV) has ruined my ability to concentrate.

I have the complete works of Jane Asten (unopened).

I've read all Orwell's books but not recently.