Some books are called classics, but really aren’t. Classics are long lived books that speak to readers many years, even centuries after they were written.
An author may dream of writing such a book, but it’s rare to achieve it. And the author will probably never know their book has become a classic.
What Makes a Classic Tale?
The simple answer is: I don’t really know. The things such books seem to have in common are: timeless themes; unforgettable characters; and intriguing plots.
Another thing classics seem to have in common is how well the theme, characters and plot can be molded into new tales. Romeo and Juliet comes to mind.
Shakespeare based his play on a tale he knew from his time. That tale is long forgotten. But his play lives on even though his lines are difficult for modern people to say and understand.
How many other stories, novels, plays and movies can you think of that are rewrites of Romeo and Juliet? West Side Story is an easy one for me.
Why Think About Long Lived Books?
I’ve just finished rereading “Gift From the Sea” by Anne Morrow Lindberg. My copy is a 1975 reissue printed 20 years after the 1955 original with a note by the author at the end.
It’s a series of essays revolving around shells she picked up on a beach during a short vacation. Each shell is linked to a time in a woman’s life.
The idea behind the essays is a chance to re-evaluate your life. Her answer is to try to simplify, admittedly almost an impossibility for women with so many responsibilities. Yet, it sets a goal for a woman to find herself and hold on to what she is in spite of all the distractions and responsibilities. One aspect so many of us have lost is taking time for ourselves, for reflection, for thought, time without interruption by phones, texts, emails, children, friends, family. This may be only a short time each day, but it lets us define who we are for ourselves instead of letting others tell us who they think we are or should be.
Classic?
“Gift From the Sea” may not be a classic tale, but it is one of the long lived books. I would be thrilled to have one of my books be so valued by readers, still speak to readers, 20 years after I wrote it.