Classical vs. Contemporary

No, I’m not talking about music or art. I’m talking books! Wonderful second-hand musty smelling books with tattered corners and aged spins full of wrinkled lines. Books newly printed with pages you are the first to flip through. Books you borrow from a library with stains (sometimes gross stains) and covers ragged from wear-and-tear. eBooks that make it so that you can carry hundreds of literary gems in your back pocket. Oh, how I can go on about my lifelong love affair with books.

A question I find myself asking from time to time is, which type of novel wins the award for most favoured category amongst readers. Classical or contemporary?

What is the difference between Classic & Contemporary literature??



Jane Austin is generally
accepted as a Classical
writer.

Classical, in today’s sense of the word refers to anything written before the 20th century. e.g. Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Milton, etc. Contemporary refers generally to anything written after the World War II onwards. However, the dates aren't strictly fixed. For example, Angela Carter, Muriel Spark, Harold Pinter, Khaled Hosseini, etc. Whether a novel is considered classic or contemporary ultimately is subjective. Some may call Shakespeare classical, and some may call F. Scott Fitzgerald classical.


The Merits of Classical and Comtemporary Novels



The writings of Khaled
Hosseini are generally
accepted as Contemporary

My current reading pleasure takes the form of Robert L. Stevenson’s Treasure Island. First published as a book in 1883, its classic nature is not generally debated. Jane Austin's novels tend to draw my attention anywhere, at any time. I am particularly fascinated by the world she creates and the romantic twists and turns that contemporary writers are in awe of.

Classical novels are less likely to be an all-round favourite amongst readers. Mainly because the style of writing in bygone centuries is difficult for the modern reader to become accustomed to. Sitting with a dictionary to enable you to "decode" a classical novel is not a pleasurable experience for most. Wuthering Heights took me a total of 2 years to complete! It was often boring and the language used was not the easiest to understand. However, the challenge of reading and understanding a classical novel is worth the effort. Reading provides entertainment and escapism. Reading a classical novel provides this plus a peek into a world where writers used pseudonyms and their imaginations to transform pages into vivid landscapes and intricate plots that transcend time.

The contemporary novel tends to be directly relatable. Even if you didn’t Eat in Italy, Pray in India and Love in Bali... Or if you were never a Kite Runner in Afghanistan. The impact a contemporary novel has on a reader is relatable. Whilst every writer has his/her own writing style, the contemporary novel is rarely beyond the avid reader's abilities. Many of my favourite literary gems are contemporary. They are the stories that stay with us even when the classical novel has lost its appeal.

 

Classical vs. Contemporary?

 

Most readers have a preference. The hardcore reader will tell you that whilst there is a vast difference between the two, they both have their attractive qualities.

I personally find myself drawn to the historical grandeur attached to the classic novel. It has a lot to do with the compulsory reading list issued by schools. The majority of these novels tend to be classical in nature and they are what we grow up reading.

At the end of the day a comtemporary selection with a sprinkling of classics to sweeten the reading list, always makes for an interesting year.

Happy reading!