Novelist and intellectual, Umberto Eco, has died. The world-renowned Italian author passed away in his home in Northern Italy last Friday, according to his family.
The news of his passing was reported by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, however, no further details were given on the cause of his death or plans for interment.
Eco's most famous work, “The Name Of The Rose,” was first translated from its original Italian title, “Il Nome Della Rosa” in 1983 by translator, William Weaver. As a previously unknown writer in the world of literature, Eco was already known in the academe and in journalism for his writings about semiotics and his contributions to an influential Italian political publication L'Espresso.
However, the novel became a hit because of the vivid description of 14th century monastery life where the murder-thriller was set. The novel was also adapted into a film in 1986, which starred Sean Connery and Christian Slater.
Eco said that he wanted his novel to show readers that the roots of the problems in society in the modern world are the same back in the 14th century. Themes which have also been explored in newer medieval and fantasy novels such as "A Song Of Ice And Fire" by George R.R. Martin.
"“I hope readers see the roots, that everything that existed then - from banks and the inflationary spiral to the burning of libraries - exists today," he said to the New York Times Book Review when the English translation of his novel was first published.
His other works include “Foucault's Pendulum,” “The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana,” and his newest published novel, “Numero Zero (Number Zero).”
Before his success as an author, Eco was born on Jan. 5, 1932 in Alessandra, Italy. The son of an accountant who wanted him to become a lawyer. But Eco chose to study philosophy at the University of Turin instead where his fascination with the medieval world began.
Even though he became known as an author in his mid-life, he continued to teach at the University of Bologna and write scholarly treatises in between book tours.
"Every author has two dreams. One is to sell a lot of copies. The other is to have written such an important book that it is difficult to read. But to have both...." he said.
