By Anna Stegeman

What is special about books that are a hundred-plus years old? Why should we read them when there are many well written books that were published in this century? Are classics still relevant to our time and culture? In the next few paragraphs I aim to answer these questions and give you five reasons why you should read classics.

First, I want to define what a classic is. According to Mark Twain a classic is, “a book that people praise and don’t read.” On a more serious note a classic is a book that has endured through the ages and remained relevant during a long period of time. It shows humanity as a sinful, fallen race yet also portrays its characters striving for virtue in this world. A classic must be worthy of numerous re-readings and leave you pondering when you finish it. They must have artistic depth and superior style. 

1. Classics have stood the test of time.

Sometimes it seems like every old book ever written is called a classic. Were past authors unable to write bad books? Of course not. Twaddle was written in past centuries. Time, however, has filtered out the twaddle, the trash, and the junk, and left us with the well written treasures. Homer, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, and the Brontë sisters have remained popular for a long time. These books and others should be read because they have survived over many years and people across different cultures have enjoyed reading them and thought them worthwhile.

2. Classics show us our blindspots.

Every era and culture has had their problems. Slavery, women’s rights, unfair treatment of Native Americans, value of machines over people, segregation, war, communism…the list goes on and on. The 21st century has its own blindspots. Reading classics has two benefits when it comes to this. First, we can easily spot the prejudices that the author had. We have identified many of our predecessor’s blindspots and their wrong views are much easier to see than a modern author’s prejudices. If an author had a wrong view of slavery or women’s rights we instantly spot it. We are very quick to convict our forefathers of their errors. But since we are living in this culture and are blinded by this era’s wrong views it is harder for us to spot our own culture’s faults. By God’s grace we will move from blindness to sight but sometimes we lack the maturity needed to rightly assess modern books, or ideas in general.

Second, since classics were written in a different era, they introduce us to different styles and culture. It is like the difference between looking at a window and a mirror. Reading modern books will only give you a modern perspective on things. You are ingesting this culture every day. Reading Ancient, Medieval, and Victorian literature, among others, gives you a peek into the culture and ideas of a different time period. We are not the only generation to have good ideas. Many of our forefathers were brilliant and the best way to learn about them and their thoughts is not by watching a documentary or reading a modern perspective about them but by reading what they wrote, getting their opinions firsthand, not from interpretation. 

As C. S. Lewis wrote, “we all, therefore need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And the means old books… The only palliative is to keep the clean breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds and this can be done only by reading old books.”

3. Classics take longer to give up their treasures.

This point may sound counterproductive but hear me out. Many newer books are only worthy of one read or none at all. You read the book once and get all the treasure out of it. They are shallow with little literary value. But classics that have stood the test of time do not release their treasures so easily. They are worthy of multiple reads, each time letting you see a little more of them. They take longer to read. You cannot speed read through “Jane Eyre,” one of my personal favorites, if you wish to understand the plot. You sometimes will struggle to decipher the older language and the different writing style. It might be harder to dive into the plot and learn to love the characters. But when you turn the last page you have found a new friend, one you can read over and over again, each time finding something new to enjoy. We as modern readers are used to instant gratification: fast food, same day delivery, digital purchases that are available seconds after you buy them. But classics make us wait and struggle before we are rewarded. Yet, the reward is worth it.

4. Classics force us to slow down and dig deep.

We live in the age of speed and constant activity. And our books have followed this trend. Most modern books are either high pace, always on the edge of your seat excitement, or they do not have much substance. You can understand the plot and any themes the author tried to convey without needing to ponder or mull it over in your mind. With classics it is harder to harvest all the jewels in it. You must spend hours with them, cultivating a friendship which will slowly grow and bear much fruit. Unlike Facebook or Instagram where you scroll through dozens of pictures, not needing to give any concentration or serious attention, with classics you need to immerse yourself in the book, ignoring distractions, and enter a well crafted world.  The story will engage and teach you, taking you to depths not possible in most newer books.

5. Classics are fun to read.

Contrary to the common view that classic literature is boring, classics are an enjoyable read. Pride and Prejudice is hilarious and delightful. You will fall in love with Elizabeth Bennet, her spunk and personality. The Odyssey will keep you quickly turning pages to find out if Odysseus will ever come home and rescue Penelope from her numerous suitors who are devouring his food, ruining his land, and taking over his house. Most classics are fun to read, you just have to give them a longer shot than the first two or three pages. There is a reason they have endured this long. For a book to remain a familiar title someone must be telling their friends and family about it, recommending the book, and telling everyone how much they enjoyed it. So try reading a classic you previously thought boring and dull. Give yourself a chance to fall in love with it. 

A clarification

Through this whole article I have been very hard on newer books. It is not that I think all modern books are bad. Some are very good works of literature. But it is harder to discern which books are great and which are ordinary. We do to know what books will last and which will fade away. Time has not cut out the twaddle and the junk for us. Life is short. Our time is limited. So, instead of reading all modern books that have not had the bad apples thrown out yet, read the classic literature that has stood the test of time and still stands strong.

So, now what?

Hopefully, by now I have convinced you to read more classics but where do you start? There is an overwhelming amount of books to be read. It is daunting just to think about. Here are some pointers:

Learning to love old books takes time.

When you begin your journey into the wonderful world of literature, please do not start with a giant tome like War and Peace or Dante’s Divine Comedy. Build endurance and skill by climbing smaller mountains before attempting Mount Everest. Read a classic that is easier to understand and enjoy. Some recommendations are Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, the Hobbit, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Treasure Island, Pilgrim’s Progress, and Oliver Twist. Read classic poems and fairy tales. They are shorter but still incredibly rich. If you struggle to understand who everyone is, what on earth is happening, and the plot in general, then listen to the audiobook version. Hold the book in your hand and read along with the narrator. Also, read children’s classics. Anne of Green Gables, the Little Princess, Heidi, Pollyanna, the Children’s Homer, and a Wrinkle in Time are beautiful works of literature and have a lot to offer.

Reading classics is a journey not a race.

Reading good literature and learning to love them is a never ending journey. You will never read all the great works of literature in your life. No one has ever reached a point where they can say they have read everything that is worth reading. The more you read the more you realized there is to read. Embrace this reality. Go out into the immense library of great literary works, pick up a book, and read! You will never be the same again.

Recommended Resources

The Christian Imagination by Leland Ryken

Invitation to the Classics by Louse Cowan and Os Guinness

Suggested Book List