Scan barcode
A review by blueyorkie
Sobre Literatura by Umberto Eco
4.0
The recent death of Umberto Eco prompted me to borrow one of his essays, "On Literature." The author is well-placed to talk about it. He has published novels of significant importance and thought more about writing than anyone else. Eco is a scholar, and his intelligence is subtle. The book in question is, in reality, a collection of lessons and lectures that the writer gave in various circumstances. Each has a particular subject: the critical study of one or more famous authors, recurring themes in literature, or even the work of Eco itself. All these brilliant reflections are only sometimes easy to understand, far from it. They may even discourage the reader. But, even if we only grabbed half of it, it would be alright.
I was very interested in the chapters devoted to authors for whom I have a particular preference. For example, the book evokes the work of J.-L. Borges (whose author is a great admirer) in two texts of great depth. But the most exciting part of the collection is the chapter "How I write." The writer explains precisely how he conceived his novels, matured and prepared them (at great length), and set their tone and rhythm: it's fascinating. It allows us better to understand the final result of his immense labor: his completed novels, as we readers discover them.
I was very interested in the chapters devoted to authors for whom I have a particular preference. For example, the book evokes the work of J.-L. Borges (whose author is a great admirer) in two texts of great depth. But the most exciting part of the collection is the chapter "How I write." The writer explains precisely how he conceived his novels, matured and prepared them (at great length), and set their tone and rhythm: it's fascinating. It allows us better to understand the final result of his immense labor: his completed novels, as we readers discover them.