Splendide-Htel

This book offers a unique exploration of language and imagination, using a fictional hotel as a backdrop for profound reflections on creativity and literature.

In Splendide-Hotel, Arthur Rimbaud's fictional establishment, created amidst the tumult of ice and the polar night, serves as a springboard for Paolo Sorrentino's exploration of language and creativity. Each chapter presents a unique opportunity to delve into the connections between letters of the alphabet and the expansive realms of thought and imagery they evoke. Sorrentino reflects on the intricate workings of the imagination, drawing inspiration from literary giants such as William Carlos Williams and Rimbaud himself.

The narrative unfolds like a philosophical meditation, reminiscent of William H. Gass's lyrical treatise, On Being Blue. Sorrentino constructs a mental Grand Hotel, where each chapter invites readers to savor the beauty and complexity of language. Through this imaginative lens, he examines how letters and words can shape our understanding of the world, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary.

Splendide-Hotel ultimately becomes a celebration of the written word, an homage to the power of literature to inspire and provoke thought. Sorrentino's reflections on creativity, art, and the essence of communication create a rich tapestry that invites readers to contemplate their own experiences with language and imagination.