Literary fiction vs. mainstream commercial fiction

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 =)

Notice how you use a classic example - try Robert Kroetsch's The Studhorse Man - it is action packed, and loaded with "literary quality". In truth, the distinction is more a line between what sells, and what is good, and often they are one and the same, whereas more usually, what sells isn't generally good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JBI

Notice how you use a classic example - try Robert Kroetsche's The Studhorse Man - it is action packed, and loaded with "literary quality". In truth, the distinction is more a line between what sells, and what is good, and often they are one and the same, whereas more usually, what sells isn't generally good.

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This is the second time I see you mentioning that book and now I'm really interested.