What makes a classic book?

In his book Why Read the Classics? Italian writer Italo Calvino defined classics as ‘books which, the more we think we know them through hearsay, the more original, unexpected, and innovative we find them when we actually read them.’

Harriet Sanders, publisher of Macmillan Collectors’ Library, believes that a classic ‘has to have endured and stood the test of time … they will deal with themes that are still relevant today – universal themes.’

The recently re-launched Macmillan Collector’s Library features work from Jane Austen to Charles Dickens, from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to F Scott Fitzgerald – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, short stories and children’s books, all beautifully produced and competitively priced.

The books are a practical pocket size, with real cloth hardcover binding, a ribbon marker and gilt edges.

All the greats of world literature are available, and many titles feature their original illustrations.

From the gothic horror of Frankenstein to the social satire of Pride and Prejudice, here is Pan Macmillan’s edit of the classic books to read before you die:

• Classic books to read before you die

For more from Macmillan Collector’s Library, watch this episode of Book Break about what makes a classic:

Categories Fiction International

Tags Macmillan Collectors’ Library New books New releases Pan Macmillan SA