In one dictionary, it states that "literary fiction focuses more on style, psychological depth, and character, whereas mainstream commercial fiction (the page-turner) focuses more on narrative and plot," and that literary fiction is "serious fiction" (has "literary merit" --- authough this can be "subjective").
Examples ---
Literary Fiction: Virginia Woolf
Commercial Fiction: JK Rowling
I'm interested in knowing if there has ever been a writer who attempted to do both in one book. Can you have a page-turner with literary merit? I really enjoyed stories like JANE EYRE and GONE WITH THE WIND, and are these examples of "page-turners with literary merit"?
Thanks...
P.S.
I'm only asking this because I have always been a bookworm, and I've recently started taking English courses in university, so naturally I'm just curious =)