Umberto Eco

Umberto Eco (1932-2016), an Italian novelist, essayist, and philosopher, is best known for his novel "The Name of the Rose" (1980), a historical mystery combining semiotics and biblical analysis. Eco held the Chair of Semiotics at the University of Bologna from 1975 until his retirement. His work in semiotics, particularly "A Theory of Semiotics" (1975), established foundational principles in the field. Eco also authored "Foucault's Pendulum" (1988), a complex narrative intertwining conspiracy theories and intellectual history. Awarded the Strega Prize in 1981 for "The Name of the Rose," Eco's literary and academic contributions have left an indelible mark on both contemporary literature and semiotic studies.