What makes a book a classic ? [ 1989 letter to the editir ]

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      The Providence Journal editorial Aug. 2 , " Brewing up book battles " made me recall an old " Freshman English " essay : " What is a classic ? " .

 

            The essay made the excellent point that what makes  any book a classic is not fleeting popularity -its best seller qualities- but the love of a passionate minority. The classic has succeeded in profoundly touching a passionate minority in every generation. 

 

 They keep it alive with their enthusiasm. Recall Tinkerbell in " Peter Pan "   ?  When people stop believing in his delightful light he fades and dies.

 

 I could compose my own list of the Hot 100.

 

Sometimes the passionate minority numbers only one person .

 

                                                                                Ron Ruggieri , Warwick ( circa 1998 )