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Tomorrow's classics
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Homedeeth's question and all the various answers have set me thinking. Various books have been mentioned from various periods, all of which, even if you don't like them, are all classics for whatever reason.
Buenchico touched on the question of what defines a classic. I guess there are as many answers to that as there are books to be read. There seems to be a generally accepted idea that if a book is worthy of inclusion in an academic English curriculum of some kind, then it's probably going to be defined - somewhere - as a classic.
But I wonder which novels of today will be defined as classics fifty or a hunded years from now. There are lots of 'literary' works of the type that win Orange and Booker prizes and that are recognised as such. But stories like those of Dickens and the Bronte sisters, I suspect, were not classed as 'literary' when first published. Just accesssible books that people liked to read. I wonder if anyone could have forseen how enduring they would become.
Will we, perhaps, see the like of 'The Da Vinci Code' or 'The Devil Wears Prada' on the GCSE curricula of tomorrow? Any thoughts?
Buenchico touched on the question of what defines a classic. I guess there are as many answers to that as there are books to be read. There seems to be a generally accepted idea that if a book is worthy of inclusion in an academic English curriculum of some kind, then it's probably going to be defined - somewhere - as a classic.
But I wonder which novels of today will be defined as classics fifty or a hunded years from now. There are lots of 'literary' works of the type that win Orange and Booker prizes and that are recognised as such. But stories like those of Dickens and the Bronte sisters, I suspect, were not classed as 'literary' when first published. Just accesssible books that people liked to read. I wonder if anyone could have forseen how enduring they would become.
Will we, perhaps, see the like of 'The Da Vinci Code' or 'The Devil Wears Prada' on the GCSE curricula of tomorrow? Any thoughts?
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The Ghost Road, memoirs of a geisha, and if you look past the superficial absurdities Terry pratchetts books holding a warped mirror to reality would actually providea huge amount of material.Can just imagine an assignment discussing the relative merits of fantasy in Harry Potter and the colour of magic...
'We Need to Talk About Kevin' could be a good candidate. Even now, people love it or hate it (I'm one of the latter - tried getting into it twice and it's one of the few books I've ever completely given up on).
A hundred years from now, I have visions of kids writing about the Harry Potter books, discussing their themes and the 'social comment' in them (thank god I won't be here to see that!). They'll be studying Mills & Boon titles and talking about the 'cultural phenomenon' and the idea of 'idealised love' in the 'turbulant society of the 20th and 21st centuries'.
A hundred years from now, I have visions of kids writing about the Harry Potter books, discussing their themes and the 'social comment' in them (thank god I won't be here to see that!). They'll be studying Mills & Boon titles and talking about the 'cultural phenomenon' and the idea of 'idealised love' in the 'turbulant society of the 20th and 21st centuries'.
Durham Uni are already offering Harry Potter as a degree course.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...england-wear-11011279
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...england-wear-11011279
'Q & A' by Vikas Swarup is an incredible book. (The recent radio adaptation was spellbinding). I'd be amazed if it doesn't become a 'classic' in future years. However it will almost certainly be known in future by the title under which it is currently published, through the film based upon it: "Slumdog Millionaire".
I'd also like to think that people in years to come won't only consider 'weighty' books (such as many Man Booker prize winners) as 'classics'. Hopefully both Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett will be recognised for their genius and originality.
Chris
PS: Just to prove that I'm not a complete Philistine, who can't see the merit in any Booker prize winner, I'll suggest that 'The Old Devils' (by Kingsley Amis) should be regarded as a future classic.
I'd also like to think that people in years to come won't only consider 'weighty' books (such as many Man Booker prize winners) as 'classics'. Hopefully both Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett will be recognised for their genius and originality.
Chris
PS: Just to prove that I'm not a complete Philistine, who can't see the merit in any Booker prize winner, I'll suggest that 'The Old Devils' (by Kingsley Amis) should be regarded as a future classic.
Chris, I'm a fan of neither Adams not Pratchett, but I know they're already being included on reading lists. This is the sort of thing I mean. Stuff that starts out being 'popular' as opposed to 'literary', aimed at the masses rather than just those of us beyond a certain level of education. People read Pratchett and Adams because they tell good stories in an accessible format, and not because they 'ought to' read them.
What about Irvin Welsh and Will Self? I particularly like Filth (by the former) and I can't remember of the title of the one by the latter but it's something like Being Dead. I thought they were both very good. And Book of Dave by Will Self touches on the question in hand a bit as well actually, another good one.
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