Has the Book of Mormon joined the literary canon?

[_Trevor]

Today, on the way to the closing on my former house, I stopped in at BooksAMillion and popped over to the religion section, as is my habit. I was surprised when the following book jumped out at me:



What caught my eye was not that the Book of Mormon was being published by someone other than the LDS Church. That has already happened many times. No, what caught my attention was the fact that it was now being published as a Penguin Classic.

The word 'classic' was once applied primarily to the great works of Greek and Roman literature which were recognized as the common cultural inheritance of Western Civilization. Now the definition of classic has broadened to include the great literature of many times and cultural traditions. The Penguin Classics series reflects these changes. Still, the special status of a classic remains.

So my question to this group is this: has the Book of Mormon joined the literary canon?


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[_John Larsen]

I think by its impact to American culture and its role in American history, it is. It is, of course, no literary masterpiece. However, there are many works know as classics that just don't hold up that well, so the standard probably isn't as high as it seems.

[_Trevor]

I think by its impact to American culture and its role in American history, it is. It is, of course, no literary masterpiece. However, there are many works know as classics that just don't hold up that well, so the standard probably isn't as high as it seems.

Interesting, John. Yes, the very definition of what makes a classic is at issue here. I had long thought that any work claimed to be a classic should be widely recognized as a masterpiece. Among the Greek and Latin corpora, for example, there are many authors not considered 'classics' in the way that the three great tragedians are. Herodian will never be held in the esteem that Sophocles is. But there is also the question of influence. I wonder, though, whether the Book of Mormon really transcends the impact it has on the LDS Church and other such Restorationist sects (CoC) to the point where one would readily grant it classic status. Clearly, Penguin has weighed in. I kind of wonder, though, whether Givens et al. may not have pulled some strings.

[_John Larsen]

I used to work for the publisher that owns Penguin. I can tell you most assuredly there are only two determining factors for become a Penguin Classic: A clean copyright with no royalties and a consumer base.

[_Trevor]

I used to work for the publisher that owns Penguin. I can tell you most assuredly there are only two determining factors for become a Penguin Classic: A clean copyright with no royalties and a consumer base.

Another bubble burst. Really?

I mean, Homer is prominent on the list for those reasons?

[_John Larsen]

I used to work for the publisher that owns Penguin. I can tell you most assuredly there are only two determining factors for become a Penguin Classic: A clean copyright with no royalties and a consumer base.

Another bubble burst. Really?

I mean, Homer is prominent on the list for those reasons?

If you want to think the Communist Manifesto is a literary masterpiece, go right ahead.

[_Trevor]

If you want to think the Communist Manifesto is a literary masterpiece, go right ahead.

Touche

But it is both broadly influential and historically significant in a way that the Book of Mormon hopefully never will be.

[_silentkid]

I just pulled my copy of The Brothers Karamazov off my bookshelf. It's the Penguin Classic edition and what I consider to be one of the greatest works of fiction ever produced. I have to admit that when I think of Penguin Classics, I don't think of the Book of Mormon. I'm not saying that the Book of Mormon isn't a classic--it is, but for reasons other than its literary appeal. I kind of like the cover artwork of this edition...it beats my old faux-leather edition hands down.

[_Trevor]

I kind of like the cover artwork...it beats my old faux-leather edition hands down.

Nice point, silentkid. And thanks for drawing my attention to the cover again. You know, I think the choice of art says a lot about how they see the Book of Mormon as a classic. Like the painting, the Book of Mormon is a kind of folk art. It exhibits a kind of rough-hewn beauty that only comes from unschooled inspiration. Unless, of course, Rigdon wrote it and ripped off half of it from Spalding. In which case, it is actually the result of bad art mixed with religious excess by devious means. But, I digress.

By the way, doesn't the question of authorship now become even more momentous now that it is a Penguin Classic? I mean, let's say the Criddle study is correct. Will it succeed in changing the cover to "by Solomon Spalding, Sidney Rigdon, et al." or will the power of the LDS Church manage to preserve Smith's credit?

[_Ray A]

Trev, if you're not aware, the Penguin edition has 152 reviews at Amazon.

I haven't read them yet.