Do the "classics" have a life of their own? Pierre Probst's Caroline collection: future-proof

Abstract

When Alain Viala tries to define the notion of “classic”, he proposes the idea that "classical" would be a value relating to a logic of reception by readers, editors, the School and researchers. If we accept the idea of ​​relying on the reception, we are forced to accept the idea that this reception may evolve over time and that the "classics" of today cannot be the "Classics" of yesterday and those of tomorrow. Pierre Probst's “Caroline” series is a series that has left its mark on several generations of readers of both sexes. Hachette has long made this series the centerpiece of its youth sector in France and abroad. Booksellers and libraries no longer seem to take too much interest in it. In this article, we will show that the "Caroline" series is both a popular classic and a "Great Classic". We will end up analyzing the possible reasons of its unclassicization.

Keywords: series, unclassicization, geographer-picturebook, popular classic, reception.