Umberto Eco's The Role of the Reader is a cornerstone of modern literary theory, shifting the focus from authorial intent to the reader’s constructive power. It is an indispensable guide for anyone wanting to move beyond what a text says to understand how it works.
Many university libraries or platforms like JSTOR offer scholarly analysis of the book, which can be just as helpful as the text itself.
If you are unable to download the full PDF immediately, these sources offer excellent ways to preview or study the book.