Classic book
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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In the traditional sense, a classic book is one written in ancient Greece or ancient Rome (see classics). The word "classic" may, however, also be applied to literature and other art that is widely considered a model of its form.
Some authors who have written classics are Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce, Miguel Cervantes, Geoffrey Chaucer, Anton Chekhov, Joseph Conrad, Lewis Carroll, Confucius, Denis Diderot, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Henrik Ibsen, Niccolò Machiavelli, Jonathan Swift, William Shakespeare, August Strindberg, Leo Tolstoy and Voltaire.
In this sense, classics comprise what some call a "canon" of world literature. A matter of much dispute is what belongs in the canon of Western literature and art.
Most "classics" are many years old, but the word is sometimes pressed into use to describe newer works. Many classic books are, because of their age, now out of copyright and in the public domain, and of these a large number are freely available on-line from sources such as Project Gutenberg, many university websites or commercial sites such as Literature Junction and The Literature Network.
Classics may be interpreted often usually as a widely-read book, however, it usually is (in some sense) a book marking a turning point in history. Others may reflect the traditional views of earlier societies or report social conflicts during that time. Certain classics may contain revolutionary ideas or fact. Classics usually dominate in literature that suggests a social or philosophical change.
Some people enjoy classics because of the clever development of the plot and/or characterization. Classics can be enjoyed by people of all ages, usually ranging from young teens to older adults.
The phrase 'classic book' or 'classic literature' has taken on new meaning - many view any pre-1900 book still in print as a classic, and many books are classed as modern classics because of their contemporary significance or perceived future significance.
See also
