Literature for me isn't a workaday job, but something which involves desires, dreams and fantasy.

Antonio Tabucchi’s quote, "Literature for me isn't a workaday job, but something which involves desires, dreams and fantasy," expresses his view of literature as a deeply creative and emotional endeavor, rather than a mundane or routine task. Tabucchi contrasts the act of writing and engaging with literature as something that transcends the day-to-day, highlighting its connection to the imagination and the inner world of the writer. By linking literature with desires, dreams, and fantasy, he emphasizes the emotional and imaginative fuel that drives great writing, suggesting that literature is not merely an intellectual exercise, but one that taps into the unconscious and the aspirational.

The quote also suggests that literature is an expression of deeper, often unspoken human truths. It involves more than just crafting stories or composing words; it is a means of exploring and giving voice to the dreams and fantasies that define the human experience. By elevating literature beyond a “workaday job,” Tabucchi underscores the importance of passion and personal connection in the creation of written art. It’s an art form that is linked to creativity, offering writers the space to explore their deepest emotions and desires.

Tabucchi’s view aligns with the idea that literature holds a transformative power, offering both the writer and the reader an escape from the mundane world and an entry into something more profound and imaginative. His description of literature as a realm for dreams and fantasy positions it as a tool for exploration and personal expression, capable of capturing the complexities of the human psyche.

The origin of the quote comes from Antonio Tabucchi, an Italian novelist and short story writer known for his intellectual yet deeply emotional works. His most famous work, Pereira Maintains, reflects themes of personal freedom, existential questions, and the intersection of reality and fantasy. Tabucchi’s statement here highlights his perspective on literature as a space that goes beyond the ordinary, focusing on the deeper emotional and imaginative forces that shape both the writer and the written word.