Birth of Umberto Eco
Birth of Umberto Eco
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Umberto Eco Biography and Timeline
Follow Umberto Eco through 41 dated historical records for Italy.
Umberto Eco, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
41Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1932–2015Years on this page
1932
1954
Turin Philosophy Degree
Eco completed a philosophy degree at the University of Turin, specializing in medieval aesthetics.
1956
Aesthetics of Thomas Aquinas
Eco published a scholarly study of Thomas Aquinas and medieval aesthetic theory.
1959
Art and Beauty Medieval Study
Eco contributed a study of medieval aesthetics to a collaborative history of aesthetic thought.
1962
The Open Work
Eco published The Open Work, an influential study of openness and interpretation in modern art.
1963
Group 63 Literary Avant Garde
Eco participated in Gruppo 63, an experimental Italian literary movement challenging conventional writing.
1964
Apocalyptic and Integrated Intellectuals
Eco published Apocalittici e integrati, examining mass culture and contemporary intellectual responses.
1966
The Bomb and the General
Eco published a children's book illustrated by Eugenio Carmi, using narrative to address nuclear danger.
The Three Cosmonauts
Eco collaborated with illustrator Eugenio Carmi on a children's story promoting understanding across cultures.
1968
The Absent Structure
Eco published La struttura assente, a study developing questions about signs and structuralism.
1973
Ammazza Uccellino Story
Eco published an illustrated children's tale under the pseudonym Dedalus.
The Custom Makes the Man
Eco published Il costume di casa, collecting essays on culture and communication.
1975
A Theory of Semiotics
Eco published A Theory of Semiotics, an influential framework for studying signs and communication.
1976
Semiotics Theory English Edition
An English-language edition of A Theory of Semiotics disseminated Eco's work to international scholars.
1977
How to Write a Thesis
Eco published How to Write a Thesis in Italian, offering practical guidance to university students.
1979
The Role of the Reader
Eco published The Role of the Reader, essays examining interpretation and textual cooperation.
1980
The Name of the Rose
Eco published his first novel, The Name of the Rose, blending a medieval mystery with philosophical inquiry.
1981
Strega Prize for Rose
Eco received Italy's Strega Prize for The Name of the Rose.
1982
Medicis Foreign Prize
Eco's The Name of the Rose won the French Prix Medicis etranger.
1983
Name of Rose English Translation
The English translation of The Name of the Rose extended the novel's international success.
1984
Semiotics and Philosophy of Language
Eco published Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language, exploring fundamental problems in sign theory.
1985
Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages
Eco's study of medieval aesthetics circulated in English as Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages.
1986
Name of Rose Film Adaptation
A film based on Eco's The Name of the Rose reached international audiences.
1988
Foucault Pendulum
Eco published Foucault's Pendulum, a novel satirizing conspiracy theories and interpretive excess.
1989
Foucault Pendulum English Edition
An English translation of Foucault's Pendulum brought Eco's second novel to new readers.
1990
Limits of Interpretation
Eco published The Limits of Interpretation, discussing constraints on plausible readings of texts.
1992
Gnomes of Gnu Children Book
Eco released The Gnomes of Gnu, an illustrated children's book with Eugenio Carmi.
Interpretation and Overinterpretation
Eco published Interpretation and Overinterpretation, engaging debates about readers and textual meaning.
1994
Island of the Day Before
Eco published The Island of the Day Before, a historical novel exploring time and knowledge.
1995
Island English Translation
The English translation of The Island of the Day Before expanded the novel's circulation.
1997
Kant and the Platypus
Eco published Kant and the Platypus, essays concerning language, classification and knowledge.
2000
Baudolino
Eco published Baudolino, a historical fantasy about storytelling and belief in the Middle Ages.
2001
Baudolino English Edition
The English translation of Baudolino introduced Eco's historical fantasy to more readers.
2003
Mouse or Rat Translation Essays
Eco published Mouse or Rat, a collection of reflections on translation and negotiation between languages.
2004
Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana
Eco published The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, exploring memory and popular culture.
2005
Queen Loana English Edition
The English edition of The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana expanded the novel's international reception.
2007
On Ugliness
Eco edited On Ugliness, an illustrated exploration of shifting aesthetic judgments across history.
2009
The Infinity of Lists
Eco published The Infinity of Lists, an illustrated investigation of catalogues and enumeration.
2010
Prague Cemetery
Eco published The Prague Cemetery, examining forged documents and antisemitic conspiracy narratives.
2015
Numero Zero Final
Eco published Numero Zero, a satire of journalism and manufactured political intrigue.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.