Learn English – How much time must elapse for an item such as a book to become classic

meaning

Mentioning a book to an individual to include in their list as classic was met with…

I wouldn't call "Book Name" a classic – it's less than 11 years
old.

This got me thinking about when a book or other item (car, slang, recipe, etc…) becomes a classic. In my initial investigation I stumbled upon this description…

A novel can be called a classic when there is a significant time
period between its publishing and the current age we are in. In other
words, it has to be old, as well as critically renowned as a good
novel. Then, it can be called a classic.

While the above may help define what constitutes a classic, it doesn't define the amount of time that needs to pass before that criteria is met.

Does the designation classic truly imply that a significant amount of time has passed since the work's creation, and if so, how long must that period be to qualify as "significant"?

Best Answer

Time, as they say in contracts, is not of the essence. For the OED, a classic is:

A work of literature, music, or art of acknowledged quality and enduring significance or popularity. In extended use: something which is memorable and an outstanding example of its kind.

The entry is silent on how long it must endure to be of enduring significance or popularity.

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