A rhetoric of silence and other selected writings

This work explores the intricate relationship between silence, reading, and literature through a series of chapters that delve into various themes. It begins by defining silence and its necessary exclusions, followed by a contemporary examination of rhetoric. The text praises the act of reading, contrasting silence with its literary counterpart, and discusses the evolution of the reader's role. It tackles issues surrounding repeated discourse and the fragmentation of narrative, particularly through the lens of Felisberto Hernández's work. The discussion progresses to the era of the reader and the critical engagement with texts, emphasizing the duality of style and the inherent rights of readers. It addresses the tension between the solidity and precariousness of texts, exploring the interplay of reading and interdiction, and the silence that exists between words. The author examines writing's reticence and how it shapes reader interpretation. In addition to the main chapters, selected writings offer insights into figures like Borges and Laforgue, as well as cinematic analysis of Fellini. The text concludes with a series of notes, references, and a subject index, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the complexities of reading and interpretation in literature.