How do we define a classic novel? With Henry Eliot and Gill Hornby

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<p>Can a hundred-year-old novel still feel completely modern? Does <em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/35482/the-count-of-monte-cristo-by-alexandre-dumas-trans--robin-buss-intro--robin-buss/9780141392462" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Count of Monte Cristo</a></em> explain our obsession with superheroes? Who actually decides when a book becomes a classic? And why did Jane Austen’s own family have no idea she’d written <em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/31909/pride-and-prejudice-by-austen-jane/9780241776322" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pride and Prejudice</a></em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/31909/pride-and-prejudice-by-austen-jane/9780241776322" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">?</a></p><br><p>This week on <em>Ask Penguin</em>, Rhianna is joined by author, editor and podcaster Henry Eliot to rethink everything we mean when we call a book a classic. Together they explore forgotten masterpieces, the problem with the traditional literary canon and the books that retain an “irrepressible freshness” across generations. </p><br><p>Plus, bestselling novelist Gill Hornby reveals how Cassandra Austen became the keeper of her sister’s legacy, and why <em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/439498/miss-austen-by-hornby-gill/9781787469778" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Miss Austen</a></em> is ultimately a story about the many different forms a happy ending can take.</p><br><p>For the full list of recommended reads visit: <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2024/10/the-penguin-podcast-episode-3-classics-and-modern-classics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode 3: Classics</a></p><br><p>Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk.</p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcast?utm_campaign=PodcastEpisode3&amp;utm_source=penguinwebsite&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.penguin.co.uk/podcast</a></p><br><p>Follow Henry&#39;s substack by clicking <a href="https://henryeliot.substack.com/ " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here </a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>