Fantasy and prison – or when I fell in love with Fabrizio del Dongo

A journey to Posen, Poland, served as the unlikely catalyst for the author Dominik Barta's profound engagement with literature and its characters. What began as a work-related trip to address electronic logistics issues at a company there unexpectedly opened a portal into a world of imagination and deep personal connection with fictional figures.

Barta recounts how the trip, undertaken by train due to his boss's fear of flying, led him to confront the "strong attraction of books and their heroes." The narrative suggests that in the realm of fantasy, the author's desires take flight, particularly his admiration for characters like Fabrizio del Dongo, whom he imagines with the striking looks of a "Brazilian supermodel."

The piece explores the immersive power of reading, where the boundaries between the reader's reality and the fictional world become fluid. It touches upon the personal solace and escape that literature can provide, allowing readers to inhabit different lives and perspectives through the characters they encounter. The author's reflection highlights how literary figures can become deeply meaningful, influencing perceptions and offering a rich inner life.