Are classics inherently better?

How one book turned me into a reader—and why I’m still looking for today’s stories to move me the same way.

I still remember the day I read The Picture of Dorian Gray for the first time. Books were still unknown to me, but I have gradually developed a little liking towards them, and like many beginners, I looked for book recommendations on the internet. Everywhere, they seem to recommend this book for the first time. I picked it up and I loved it. I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions: excitement and an overwhelming sense of joy. I was blushing while reading every sentence. The book is an investigation into the human soul, the power of vanity, and the problems of living a life with not a single consequence for your actions. It’s powerful stuff.. oh boy, this was something to be dwelling upon for days. Oh, the choice of words. All the sentences were well structured(you can literally quote almost all of them), much thought went into them, and the words were very carefully chosen, which left me wondering how anyone can write like that. For me, it was a piece of art. And I declared myself a reader and a book lover, in fact, a classic reader.

I didn’t want to constrain myself only to classics, and I tried to read some modern fiction too. In order to see the world through modern beliefs, not only the outdated old ones. I have found modern fiction disappointing in comparison.

And it left me pondering on this question a little too much: Are classics inherently better than modern fiction?

First of all, I want to point out that everything I will be saying here will be my own reading experience.

Language, like everything in society, evolves in response to societal change, technological advancement, and cultural shifts. When we watch a period drama movie, the way people talk is just different. They use long sentences and vocabulary that feels almost foreign. Just as society and language change, so do the ways we make art. In painting, we moved from Impressionism to Modernism; in literature, from Romanticism to Postmodernism. We find new ways and new ideas to express. Every generation faces unique problems, and literature, like a mirror, adapts to reflect them.

Take Dickens, for example. His works are strongly associated with the social, political, and cultural landscape of the Victorian era. His novels often explored themes of social injustice, poverty, and the impact of industrialization on society, which were prevalent concerns during the Victorian period.

Likewise, Oscar Wilde, writing in the late Victorian era, was a spokesman for the late 19th-century Aesthetic movement in England. This movement advocated art for art's sake, focusing on beauty and style over moral or political messaging, which may be why The Picture of Dorian Gray is so full of beautiful prose.

It is obvious how technology has changed writing. Writers publish novels that appeal to the masses and are just made for the algorithms and short attention spans. As a result, they often lack quality.

This is a conversation that took place between me and my friend a few days ago:

Me: I only want to read old books because I’ve picked up many of the most recommended modern novels and New York Times bestsellers, and while some were enjoyable, many left me feeling underwhelmed.

My friend: There are so many bluffs being published, and it's hard to filter through them. It feels like you are wasting your time and money with it. And you instead pick up a classic, and it's likely not to disappoint you.

Modern writing mostly lacks beautiful prose. In the past, writing was considered an art form, with significant emphasis placed on crafting elegant sentences and developing sophisticated prose. Today, however, the focus has shifted more toward storytelling and plot development rather than the artistry of individual sentences. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's bad. Sometimes you are just supposed to enjoy the story and plot for its own sake without thinking about the writing and style. But I still look for that beautiful writing that made me fall in love with reading.

Classics have survived generations of readers, loved and admired by many for the insights they provide on culture, human nature, and moral exploration. Time itself acts as a filter. That's why every time we pick up a classic, it's less likely to disappoint or frustrate us( other than having its own difficult English). In the case of modern fiction, they are being published now. More than 2.2 million books were published in 2024; that’s like 6,000 new books every day. Independent publishing has become easier these days than it was then due to technological advancements and the rise of online platforms. As a result, there are many bluffs to be filtered out. The chances of getting disappointed in this case are pretty high.

Why I lean towards classics so much might be something deeply personal. There is no comparison to the way Dickens’ novels move me. The way he writes about the poor with such wit, compassion, and insight is priceless. His stories are just so heart-warming; they embrace hardship and somehow find light. It speaks to me. It also feels like he knew something essential about life that I haven't quite grasped yet, but want to. The same goes with Dostoevsky. The way he explores the deepest and darkest of human nature is unlike anything I have ever read.

It's not just that I like old books or old writings. It's those certain books and certain authors that speak to me in a way I haven't found in modern literature. They move me, and they show me the truths that I didnt know I was searching for.

With all that being said, we should not fail to recognize the downside of classics. The privilege of being published was mostly reserved for white men, leaving all the other voices unheard. Classics sometimes present a narrow worldview, one shaped largely by white male perspectives while failing to give power and space to other voices. We should not fail to criticise classics for that. Every time I read a racist or sexist comment being made in a book, I have to control myself from hurling the book out the window. That's exactly why reading contemporary and modern fiction is important too. It expands our understanding, includes diverse voices, and shows us the stories that were once ignored or erased. I am in constant search for such books.

One of the books that gave me a glimpse of what I’ve been searching for is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It’s not necessarily one of the greatest books I’ve ever read, but the writing gives me hope that beautiful, careful prose still exists in modern literature. Another book that moved me deeply was Inés of My Soul by Isabel Allende. It told a story I had never encountered before, from a voice that felt both powerful and necessary. Books like these remind me why I keep looking because sometimes, modern fiction can stir the soul just as much as the old ones do.

So no, classics are not inherently better; there are so many books that are ready to be discovered. Sometimes it takes a little extra effort. And also, there is no harm in finding a balance between reading a little of everything.

If you have made it this far, thank you for reading. Please leave some book recommendations, mostly contemporary and modern fiction, in the comment section below.

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