Umberto Eco author page

Umberto Eco biography

Umberto Eco was an Italian author, philosopher, and semiotician. He is best known for his debut novel, The Name of the Rose, published in 1980. The novel, a historical murder mystery set in an Italian monastery, achieved international acclaim and was translated into numerous languages. Eco followed this success with several other novels, including Foucault’s Pendulum (1988), The Island of the Day Before (1994), Baudolino (2000), The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana (2004), and The Prague Cemetery (2010). His final novel, Numero Zero, was published in 2015.

Eco also wrote extensively on semiotics, literary theory, and medieval studies. His academic works include A Theory of Semiotics (1976) and The Open Work (1962). He held the position of Professor of Semiotics at the University of Bologna. Eco’s books have been published by major international publishers, including Harvill Secker and Vintage in the UK.

The Name of the Rose received the Strega Prize in 1981, one of Italy’s most prestigious literary awards. Eco’s works have been recognised with numerous honours, including the Légion d’honneur from France and honorary doctorates from several universities. The Name of the Rose was adapted into a feature film in 1986 and a television series in 2019.

Eco’s influence extends across literature, philosophy, and cultural studies. His final novel, Numero Zero, was published in 2015.