The Uses of Literature

by Italo Calvino

First published 1986

Italo Calvino, the visionary Italian novelist, dives into the animistic world of literature. From Homer's Odyssey to the utopian schemes of Charles Fourier, Calvino uncovers the secret desires and hidden energies that power the classics. His essayistic odyssey reveals how writers must "establish erotic communion" with the mundane to unlock the extraordinary. Brimming with fresh insights and delightful surprises, this is a master class in the magic of reading and writing.

Genres: literature, art, essays, literary-criticism, literary-fiction, 20th-century, criticism, academic

Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking

Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator

Period: 20th Century

341 pages · Hardcover · Harcourt

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