What about Pereira? Can he be trusted? A testimony of 'true fiction' in <i>Sostiene Pereira</i>

Abstract

The paper takes as its starting point suggestions made by Tabucchi of a connection between the protagonist of the novel and the untrustworthy Pereira in Eliot's "Fragment of a prologue". The words "sostiene Pereira" could indicate the stipulation of a contract between writer and character. The existence of similar intentions in the film and novel is explored and the outcomes of the personal transformation of Pereira in each medium. Pereira's personal testimony could also be read as a personal testimony of Tabucchi the writer.