What makes a classic novel? Plus six Booker Prize classics The Booker Prize Podcast

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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