There are no 'classics' of crime and detection. Not one. Within its frame of reference, which is the only way it should be judged, a classic is a piece of writing which exhausts the possibilities of its form and can never be surpassed. No story or novel of mystery has done that yet. Few have come close. Which is one of the principal reasons why otherwise reasonable people continue to assault the citadel.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author argues that no crime story has yet perfected its form.
- In plain terms
- No mystery book has ever been the best possible version of its kind.
- What can you take from it?
- The genre is still evolving and has room for great works.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a book a classic?
- Can a genre ever be perfected?
Another view
The claim is subjective and relies on a strict definition of classic.
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