Enduring Classics

A Tale of Two Cities....To Kill a Mockingbird....Pride and Prejudice. Some literary works are read and adored by generations of book lovers while others pass into oblivion. What determines if a book will be widely read and respected in 100 years? Certainly there is something to be said about the power of criticism and academia, but I think there must be other issues at play.

As a book lover myself, I find that I am strangely drawn to this collection of works commonly referred to as "the classics." In some instances, like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, they are dear friends that are associated with special memories. Others are simply intimidating. There are still others that leave me wondering why <insert novel title here> is held in such high regard. The more that I read these great works of literature, the more I discover that they share some common features.

• Universal themes. Topics such as love, hate, grief, and confusion are not bound to a certain era. They are part of the human experience that is not limited to any class, nationality, or sex. Books that honestly deal with such concepts touch the heart of the reader deeply and generate a common bond that spans the centuries.
• Command of language. There are few things more beautiful than a splendidly constructed sentence that borders on the poetic while clearly conveying its message. An author who is a wordsmith will transport the audience to any locale and create a scene that is incredibly vibrant and alive.
• Provides a clear portrait of a specific person or era of time. While speaking to universal ideals, the gifted author also causes us to become absorbed in the compelling story of a specific individual living in a single moment of history. While we've all dealt with death, Juliet's experience as she sees her fallen Romeo is unique. The courage of Jean Valjean is so memorable because of the situation in France that surrounds his actions. If these events had happened in another life in another place, the resulting literature would quite possibly lose much of its power and magic.
• The author has something to say about life. This is the reason we return to these works over and over again. The work speaks and resonates with our innermost being. 

What are some of the aspects of "the classics" that set them apart from other books in your mind? If you had to name your favorite classic, which would it be? (I've included the titles of my favorites in this post because I simply couldn't narrow it down to just one!) Which classic intimidates you, but still remains on your "to be read" list? (What's mine? It's been Anna Karenna for a long time now.) Please share your thoughts with me in the comments section of this post.