Quote:
Originally Posted by ardeegee
Some classics are classics because they are great reads. Others are classics because they were first at doing x, when x is commonly employed in more modern, more refined writing.
Writing evolves over time, just like any other technology created by humans. The Model T Ford is a historically important car-- but that doesn't mean that some modern cars aren't an improvement in almost every way. For instance, Dickens is fine, Trollope, I don't believe I've ever heard of. But Austen? I'd rather spend my time reading a telephone directory.
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Your loss, to my mind. Many people seem to think Jane Austen's novels are dull because "nothing happens". But that's missing the whole point; they are about people, not "things". "Emma" is my personal favourite, although "Pride and Prejudice" is extremely witty. All 6 of her novels are fantastic reads, but you have to "get into" them and not (as you rightly say) expect them to read like a modern novel - they aren't.
Anthony Trollope was, by the way, one of the greatest 19th century English authors.
But, when it comes down to it, we all have different tastes in these things.