That also leaves aside the divide between "literature" and "popular fiction" — a division I'm convinced that's as much about marketing and snootiness as it is about writing quality. Popular fiction is often the first to fade — but lovers of literature are sometimes themselves quick to leap on cleverness that the future won't necessarily appreciate.
Which brings me to these amusing lines from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (a movie best valued for its amusing lines), as Kirk and Spock ride on a bus:
KIRK: You mean profanity. That's simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays any attention to you if you don't swear every other word. You'll find it in all the literature of the period.
SPOCK: For example?
KIRK: Oh, the collective works of Jacqueline Susann. The novels of Harold Robbins.
SPOCK: Ah! …'The giants'.
Hmmmm. Does anyone still read Susann or Robbins?
As to the predictions below — I'm glad to say I actually recognize most of them, but part of that is dim memories from AP English classes in high school and my penchant for collecting quotations.
Future Classics: Readers of 1936 Predict Which Authors Will Endure
I've heard of most of the authors, but admittedly haven't read many of them. Interesting how the readers didn't choose Hemingway.
When considering today's authors, I'm fairly certain that Stephen King will be required reading in future generations.
+John E. Bredehoft Yeah. Though a lot of his works post-date 1936.
I would have probably included Dashell Hammett, too.
An interesting observation on King. I suspect you're correct, but I wouldn't bet money on it.
Huh. All fairly good picks for being…75 years back.