From the Miraculous Life of Words

Esterhazy, Peter

In his usual engaging style, the author discusses language and literature. While he is looking for an answer to the question of what it means to be a writer today, he also provides an insight into his own creative process.
Language is an equal participant in the creative process with the author, therefore he "should have an intimate relationship with words". Words do not have a meaning but rather a use; this use shapes and defines their meaning and their history is part of this. If a word becomes tainted, it can never again be used with its original meaning but only with and in awareness of its attached meanings. Literature, not unlike philosophy or science, studies the secrets of life - and it is a serious matter in this sense.
The reader in our changing world is sometimes discontented with contemporary literature saying that there is no story, no span of discourse. The answer of the writer is: why don't you try living yourself? "Why don't you live a life that spans the discourse? Look, I'll show you how".

About the lecturer