February 15, 2024

What makes a classic novel? Plus six Booker Prize classics

47 minutes

When does a book transcend from contemporary literature to a classic? Does someone have to confirm its classic status? And can all Booker Prize novels be considered classics just by being part of the Booker canon? This, and more, is what Jo and James are trying to get to the heart of in this week's episode. Listen in as they discuss what makes a classic novel and chat about which Booker books should be known as classics.

In this episode Jo and James:

Consider what makes a classic

Each pick three novels from the Booker Library that are – or should be – considered classics

Discuss the plots of their chosen novels and why they are deserving of classic status

Reading list:

Something to Answer For by P.H. Newby: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/something-to-answer-for

A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/a-month-in-the-country

How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/how-late-it-was-how-late

St. Urbain's Horseman by Mordecai Richler: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/st-urbains-horseman

Atonement by Ian McEwan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/atonement

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-remains-of-the-day

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-handmaids-tale

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/shuggie-bain

Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/schindlers-ark

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-english-patient

Autobiography by Morrisey

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/midnights-children

The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-siege-of-krishnapur

The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-conservationist

Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/oscar-and-lucinda

The Ghost Road by Pat Barker: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-ghost-road

Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/disgrace

Staying On by Paul Scott: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/staying-on

The Famished Road by Ben Okri: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-famished-road

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/cloud-atlas

The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-line-of-beauty

Autumn by Ali Smith: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/autumn

Crudo by Olivia Laing

No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/no-one-is-talking-about-this

Waterland by Graham Swift: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/waterland

G. by John Berger: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/g

Read Alex Clark's piece, “Which novels in the Booker Prize archives should be considered classics?”: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/which-booker-prize-novels-should-be-considered-classics

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/the-booker-prize-podcast-episode-33-what-makes-a-classic-novel

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