About this ebook
A wide-ranging collection of essays on the importance and meaning of literature by “one of the most influential thinkers of our time” (Los Angeles Times).
In this collection of essays and addresses delivered over the course of his long and celebrated career, Umberto Eco seeks "to understand the chemistry of [his] passion" for the word. From musings on Ptolemy and "the force of the false" to reflections on the experimental writing of Borges and Joyce, Eco's restless curiosity and encyclopedic knowledge are on dazzling display. On a more personal note, he also reveals his own ambitions and superstitions, his authorial anxieties and fears, letting readers into the private realms of his creative practice.
Remarkably accessible and unfailingly stimulating, this collection exhibits the diversity of interests and originality of thought that have made Eco one of the world's literary giants.
In this collection of essays and addresses delivered over the course of his long and celebrated career, Umberto Eco seeks "to understand the chemistry of [his] passion" for the word. From musings on Ptolemy and "the force of the false" to reflections on the experimental writing of Borges and Joyce, Eco's restless curiosity and encyclopedic knowledge are on dazzling display. On a more personal note, he also reveals his own ambitions and superstitions, his authorial anxieties and fears, letting readers into the private realms of his creative practice.
Remarkably accessible and unfailingly stimulating, this collection exhibits the diversity of interests and originality of thought that have made Eco one of the world's literary giants.
Ratings and reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Julie Catte
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March 6, 2014
On Literature is a very interesting read for a young writer who is deep into the worlds of both literature and technology. While I may not agree with all of the opinions in his writing (and many of them, as with any literature, should be taken with a grain of salt), I have a great respect for him.
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
UMBERTO ECO (1932–2016) was the author of numerous essay collections and seven novels, including The Name of the Rose,The Prague Cemetery, and Inventing the Enemy. He received Italy’s highest literary award, the Premio Strega, was named a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French government, and was an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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