In these widely praised essays Calvino discusses literature as process, the great narrative game in the course of which writer and reader are challenged to understand the world. He discusses literature in relation to science, philosophy, and politics and analyzes aspects of the works of the great classical writers of the past. The collection concludes with tributes to contemporary writers. The literary intersests and critical insights expressed here are an important contribution to an understanding of the uses of litertature and to a comprehension of the work of a modern master.