Umberto Eco, Author of 'The Name of the Rose', Passes Away

Italian media reported that Umberto Eco, the acclaimed author of the novel 'The Name of the Rose', passed away on Friday evening, February 19, at the age of 84. A Reuters report citing the Italian newspaper La Repubblica states that Eco died at his home in northern Italy. However, this report does not provide information about the circumstances of Mr. Eco's death and lacks details in this regard. Nevertheless, The Guardian's report indicates that Mr. Eco died from cancer. Other media reports generally focus on Eco's academic and intellectual background, which spans a wide range from literature to semiotics, narratology, and philosophy. Eco himself emphasized in an interview that he is more of a philosopher than a novelist, stating, 'I only write novels on weekends.' Nonetheless, Eco's novels have brought him significant success, with 'The Name of the Rose' being the most important, having sold millions of copies worldwide. The story of this novel dates back to the 14th century in an Italian monastery and uniquely describes the philosophical and religious controversies of that time. Eco's other novels, including 'Foucault's Pendulum' and 'Baudolino', have also been well-received by critics and audiences. In the 1980s, Eco founded the Department of Communications at the University of San Marino in Italy and also served as the head of the Anthropology Department at the University of Bologna. Matteo Renzi, the Prime Minister of Italy, referred to him as an 'extraordinary example' in the European intellectual tradition, possessing both a 'unique understanding of the past' and an 'endless capacity to foresee the future.' Eco's last novel, titled 'Numero Zero', was published in late 2015. Most of Eco's novels, including 'The Name of the Rose', have been translated into Persian.