Novels with a certain structure are more likely to be classics

What makes certain novels beloved through the ages while others enjoy brief fame before fading into obscurity? Recent research indicates that the answer might be intertwined with the way words and sentences are structured within these novels.

While earlier investigations focused on the themes that might lead a book to become a bestseller — for instance, the presence of an endearing male character — scant attention was paid to the enduring factors that keep a novel in the spotlight for decades or even centuries.

In an effort to delve deeper, Leyao Wang, a researcher at York University in Toronto, and her colleagues examined 300 English novels published between 1909 and 1923. This selection included works that achieved top 10 status in Publishers Weekly, a notable trade magazine established in 1872, and ranged from titles like The Fortunate Youth by William John Locke to Black Oxen by Gertrude Atherton.

However, while these novels made waves upon release, they didn’t maintain lasting popularity, as evidenced by their absence from the top lists on the reader-favorite platform Goodreads. In contrast, other famous works such as The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie and Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery continue to thrive on Goodreads today, regardless of their initial bestseller status.

By training an AI model to distinguish between these two groups of novels based on a randomized selection of 70 degrees of their texts, researchers identified significant differences. The model noted that bestsellers from the early 20th century were generally longer and employed more casual language, including frequent use of expressions such as “yeah,” “oh,” and “OK.” Additionally, these books featured a greater amount of punctuation, making them easier to consume and thus more enticing initially, even if their narratives lacked long-term resonance.

On the other hand, the novels that have withstood the test of time were typically shorter yet contained longer and more intricate sentences, using sophisticated vocabulary that demands greater concentration from readers. This complexity may enhance memorability, encouraging readers to revisit these works or recommend them to others.

The AI model demonstrated its efficacy by successfully categorizing the remaining 30 percent of novels with approximately 70 percent accuracy.

While the researchers assert that other variables also likely impact a novel’s longevity — including thematic depth, marketing strategies, and author notoriety — they argue that foundational text features can be equally significant in predicting a work’s enduring success. Gaining insight into these elements could be tremendously valuable for authors and publishers alike.

However, Dorothy Hale of the University of California, Berkeley, raises an important caveat, suggesting that it may take over a century of observation before truly designating a work as timeless. She notes that the appeal of even the most classic literature can undergo dramatic transformations — for instance, while Shakespeare once reigned supreme in English literature, recent trends in U.S. higher education have moved toward eliminating his texts from required reading lists.