Il fascino del monstrorum artifex: l'interesse di Borges per Plinio il Vecchio

Abstract

The article investigates the fascination of the Naturalis Historia on Jorge Luis Borges. This is determinated by an extraordinary interest for the literary genre of the Encyclopedia. Through the analysis of allusions and quotations, especially from El libro de los seres imaginarios, this paper clarifies how the echo of Pliny The Elder’s Encyclopedia influences Borges in creating imaginary beings and other monstra.