What makes a book a Classic?

What makes a book a Classic? For many years the question "What makes a book a classic?" has been asked by many people. From basic definitions to numerous opinions by people from every background, gender, and age. There is no single reason a book can be construed as a classic. It isn't just the words the author has written or even the storyline behind them. According to "A Handbook to Literature” (Holman and Harman 87) defines a classic as "A piece of literature that by common consent has achieved a recognized superior status in literary history." Not everyone would agree on that phrase. There are lots of people who have created different lists of books on what they think that the most important books are. Some believe that there are certain characteristics such as; Timelessness a good piece of literature that can be enjoyed by readers from generation to generation. Some think that it is a theme which is the principal meaning of a piece of literature. It can include a reflection about life. It could be the moral of the story, or an observation of a human experience. Also a universal theme that can add to the timelessness of a book because almost everyone can relate to it, either by experiences or even in our dreams. Some of these themes may include good vs evil, rags to riches tragedy or even Love concurs all. Literature is a great way to communicate the ideas of people throughout different cultures. Writers from different cultures and backgrounds can write about their life experiences, about their own country and we as the readers can learn so much about how others view the world. To me a classic novel is a book that deals with many lasting themes such as; heroism like in the classic “The Hobbit.” J.R.R. Tolkien (1937). A life that is torn between true love and social acceptance like “In a room with a view” E.M. Forster (1908). A story of romance, murder, sacrifice and