Umberto Eco – An Obituary

A guest blog post by Ramesh Wayanad

The great novelist Umberto Eco, who died at the age of 84, is often referred to as Italy’s best known literary export.

I was introduced to the joy of writings of Umberto Eco, by Mohanji. He gave me a copy of “The Name of the Rose”. I was hooked on to the novel and since then I have read whatever he wrote. I often made it a point to get the copy of his latest offering the minute they were available in India. He has also published more than 20 nonfiction books. I am an unabashed aficionado of Umberto Eco.

Umberto Eco is a recipient of Italy’s highest literary award, the Premio Strega. He was named a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French government.

With the passing of Umbeto Eco we have lost a great novelist, a great academician, and a great scholar in the field of semiotics

Umberto Eco is survived by his wife, Renate an architecture and arts teacher, whom he married in 1962 and with whom he had a son, Stefano, and daughter, Carlotta.

Umberto Eco, born January 5 1932, died February 19 2016