Question:medium
Explain why Umberto Eco said, "I started writing novels by accident.'' (The Interview)
Explain why Umberto Eco said, "I started writing novels by accident.'' (The Interview)
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Note Eco\'s multiple interests and his shift from academic to fiction writing.
Updated On: Jan 14, 2026
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Solution and Explanation
Eco's pronouncements stemmed from his background as a professor and semiotician. His foray into fiction writing was serendipitous, initiated by an attempt to convey profound concepts within a novel, an endeavor that proved successful.
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Umberto Eco: Aah, now that is more difficult to explain. I have some philosophical interests and I pursue them through my academic work and my novels. Even my books for children are about non-violence and peace ... you see, the same bunch of ethical, philosophical interests. And then I have a secret. Did you know what will happen if you eliminate the empty spaces from the universe, eliminate the empty spaces in all the atoms? The universe will become as big as my fist. Similarly, we have a lot of empty spaces in our lives. I call them interstices. Say you are coming over to my place. You are in an elevator and while you are coming up, I am waiting for you. This is an interstice, an empty space. I work in empty spaces.
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