Umberto Eco on poetry and ‘Starsky and Hutch’

Posted on July 16, 2008 by under Arts & Literature [ Comments: 4 ]

Celebrated author Umberto Eco, who penned such notable titles as The Name of the Rose and Baudolino, had this to say about poetry:

I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early poetry, and bad poets publish it. Thankfully I gave up rather quickly.

He also professes his love for the TV series Starsky & Hutch and claims he invented Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown. You read it right.

More in a Paris Review interview snippet here

x-post: JfH


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4 Comments

  1. Gavin Chait, July 18, 2008 at 5:23 am :

    Well, anyone who has read the truly exceptional “Foucault’s Pendulum” will know it is a more sophisticated – and terribly scary – version of Dan Brown’s work. So, I figure Eco has a point ;)


  2. Brad J., July 18, 2008 at 10:40 am :

    Always thought Eco was more of a “Fantasy Island” kind of guy. Who knew?


  3. Mike Sheehan, July 18, 2008 at 10:49 am :

    Yeah I know Eco has a point… I’m just amused he’d even make it. It’s like Coltrane saying “I invented Kenny G.”


  4. Ubertramp, July 18, 2008 at 11:23 am :

    I think Coltrane would have upped the dosage on his smack if he even suspected the likes of Kenny G.


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