ON LITERATURE. [Translated from the Italian by Martin Mclaughlin.]

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.[Complete number line 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1.First published Italy by RCS Libri as 'Sulla Letteratura' and translate to English by Martin McLaughlin in 2004.This issue the first English edition.] NFINE/FINE.Owner's handwritten inked name+date to top of title page,preventing listing as FINE,but no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright, crisp,clean,repeated colour photograph of vertically stacked,openend books displayng books' signatures' top edges,illustrated dw/dj with embossed white lettering to front+spine/backstrip,rear panel with single Los Angeles Times's critic's review; with negligible shelf-wear,bumping, creasing to edges and corners – no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+ fore-edges bright and clean without spotting; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners – near pristine,appears unread,apart from my own collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,original,plain burgundy cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettered spine/backstrip and immaculate plain black endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,viipp+1- 334pp [paginated] includes author's introduction,18 sections of essays +addresses on,of,about literature; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,dedication,contents list/table,translator's thanks toward rear along with 6pp blanks. After the opening essay on the general significance of literature, Eco examines a number of major authors from the Western canon.A stimulating chapter on the poetic qualities of Dante's Paradiso is followed by one on the style of the Communist Manifesto.The next three essays centre on nineteenth - and early twentieth-century literature: one on the French writer Nerval's masterpiece,'Sylvie' (a major influence on Eco and a novella that he translated into Italian), one on Oscar Wilde's love of paradox,and one on Joyce's views on language. The last three pieces deal with the road that leads from Cervantes via Swift to Borges' Library of Babel,then an essay on Eco's own anxiety about Borges' influence on him,and the volume ends with an article on the enigmatic Italian critic and anthropologist Piero Camporesi. On Literature is a provocative and entertaining collection of sprightly essays on the key texts that have shaped Eco the novelist and critic. This volume will appeal to anyone interested in how new light is shed on old masters by a great contemporary mind. See also my book IDs' rja755217 - NUMERO ZERO. and rja850619 - THE PRAGUE CEMETERY. for other UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edns titles by this author. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE.Offer available UK onlu,unless indicated otherwise. ** N.B. US customers please be aware: US Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to USA can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always.