What are the salient features of Umbreto Eco’s writings?
Umberto Eco calls himself a university professor. Once he has his interview with Mukund Padmanabhan of ‘the Hindu’. There he reveals some important facts about him and his writing. He clearly states that he is a professor who writes novels on Sundays in the empty spaces. He tells his philosophical interests which he pursues through his academic work and his novels.
His books for children propagate nonviolence and peace. The children books are not only entertaining but are also full of ethical and philosophical interests. Because of the moral and philosophical messages, these books are liked by children very much.
In his academic works and novels, like his first doctoral dissertation in Itlay, he adopts a narrative aspect of writing. This narrative aspect satisfies his taste for writing. His famous novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ is one of his five novels which propagate his universal interest of philosophy. All his scholarly works, over forty including his book on semiotics, speak of his contribution in writing. Yet he prefers himself to be called a university professor who writes novels on Sundays.
Even his serious novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ enjoyed a huge mass audience because its detective yarn digging into metaphysics, theology and medieval history. Contrary to the people’s choice of trash, the easy things and, experiences, they preferred it.
