Correct. 19th century classics became so only because a good chunk of the populace was still illiterate, and not only could Austen, Balzac, Tolstoy, etc., writ

Correct. 19th century classics became so only because a good chunk of the populace was still illiterate, and not only could Austen, Balzac, Tolstoy, etc., write, they could write a thousand pages! So glibness was mistook for wisdom. I read a ton only because today's movies and tv are so bad, and because I can go as fast as I want. I skim because I'm only gonna remember 10%.