As the fate and future of literature are once again being questioned, Antoine Compagnon, with his unmistakable spirit, offers a provocative and insightful essay: Literature Pays Off.
Literature, the author argues, sometimes does “pay off” for writers – like Baudelaire, who lived in poverty yet attained lasting wealth through posthumous fame. But above all, it pays off for readers: it is a tribute to beauty and tranquility, to that rare time of spiritual leisure – otium – opposed to the restless, utility-driven life of negotium.
As Proust shows, educated doctors, soldiers, and all who read are always better at what they do. And today, in a world of fake news and distorted stories, the true narrative remains our strongest weapon. Without it, there can be no meaningful life.
Literature Pays Off is the fifth of Compagnon’s books published by TIM press.
- Cover: paperback
- Year of the edition: 2025
- Original title: La littérature, ça paye
- Original language: French
- Translation: Dubravka Celebrini
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