My theory is that when there were less books (and less people who could read) it was easier to become a famous novelist. Today, F Scott would be writing fanfic on a blog decorated with pissing Calvins

But be tactful in front of your professor - some people take "the classics" very personally.... I ended up in a shit ton of trouble for summarizing A Separate Peace as "whiny closeted murderer wasting paper" 🤣