logo

61 pages 2 hours read

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Italo Calvino

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979
Book Details
Pages

260

Format

Novel • Fiction

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino is a postmodern novel featuring a dual narrative: the Reader's journey through a series of fragmented, unfinished books and the narrator's direct address to the Reader. The novel starts when the Reader discovers a printing error and becomes entangled in a quest to find the book's conclusion, meeting various characters and encountering different incomplete stories along the way. The novel contains references to death by suicide and explicit sexual situations.

Mysterious

Suspenseful

Fantastical

Reviews & Readership

4.2

102,612 ratings

74%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino is praised for its innovative narrative structure and playful engagement with the reader, providing a unique literary experience. However, some readers find the fragmented storytelling and frequent interruptions challenging to follow. Overall, it captivates with its originality but may not appeal to those seeking a linear plot.

Who should read this

Who Should Read If on a Winter's Night a Traveler?

A reader who enjoys metafiction, experimental narratives, and philosophical inquiries into the nature of reading and writing would find If on a Winter's Night a Traveler compelling. Fans of Jorge Luis Borges' Labyrinths and Vladimir Nabokov's Pale Fire are particularly likely to appreciate Calvino's innovative storytelling.

4.2

102,612 ratings

74%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

260

Format

Novel • Fiction

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.