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A literary canon is a list of important books, chosen by individuals or groups, that have cultural impact and are studied in depth. Canons can be created by universities, literary elites, or publishing houses. The process is subjective and some argue that there are no literary canons. Populist canons are less stable than those produced by institutions. Books like “1984” and “Catch-22” are often found in canons and are protected and reprinted by publishers.
Books are added to the literary canon in various ways, and the method depends on the canon being changed. Every university will have a range of books that it believes are essential for students to read. Other canons are created by literary elites and critics or by publishing houses. In order for a book to be added to that list, it must be proposed and accepted by the people tasked with compiling the list.
A literary canon is an authoritative list of books deemed to be of national or global importance. They can also be lists of books that are important to a specific institution. These books go beyond being well written to have a cultural impact. Being on that list gives a book status and respect, and means the book will be studied in depth by students and continue to be reprinted.
The choice of which books constitute a new canon or add to an established one is subjective. The process depends entirely on the opinion of one person or group. The fewer people involved in the decision, the more subjective it becomes. Such lists are usually chosen by an academic or literary elite, regardless of popular opinion. Because such lists are so varied and so subjective, some argue that there are no literary canons at all.
At times, there have been attempts to produce a popular canon of literature. In 2004, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) produced a TV series called “The Big Read”. An attempt followed to compile the greatest Britons by producing a list of the greatest books of all time. The show, however, has placed a limit on the number of books a single individual has.
The list eventually narrowed down to a top 100 and then a top 21. Some writers, like Terry Pratchett, were too successful for their own good because they wrote so many popular books that fan votes were split among them. . The show was won, much to the BBC’s chagrin, by JRR Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’. The top 21 also included books by writers such as Philip Pullman, Douglas Adams and JK Rowling.
Populist literary canons are less stable and enduring than those produced by universities and literary institutions. A book is eventually added to a list because it is deemed important by enough critics and academics. Such lists aren’t set in stone, and older classics often give way to newer ones.
Books that have a long publication and enter the thoughts of society as a whole like “1984” and “Catch-22” are often found in most canons. They are also protected and reprinted by publishers.
