Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentinian short story writer, poet, and translator, once said, ‘I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.’ This evocative image captures the transformative power of literature, reminding us that books have the ability to open gateways to knowledge, culture, and understanding. The fundamental nature of literature as a form of communication is what sparked our curiosity about its role in contemporary English language teaching (ELT). In an era where technology and social media dominate global communication and education, we set off to explore how literature retains its essential place in ELT—not only for its capacity to develop linguistic skills but also for its power to foster critical empathy, cultural literacy, and global perspectives that communicative approaches alone may miss. The primary aim of this introductory chapter is to provide a thorough overview of the theoretical foundations that inform the various perspectives and strategies explored in this volume. It lays the groundwork for the book by examining the transformative impact of literature in ELT.