ROME (AP) — Italian author Umberto Eco, best known for the international best-seller "The Name of the Rose," has died.
Spokeswoman Lori Glazer of Eco's American publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, told The Associated Press that Eco died Friday at age 84. She could not immediately confirm the cause of death or where he died.
"The Name of the Rose," a murder mystery set in the 14th century, was published in 1980 and caught on with readers worldwide. His other books included "Foucault's Pendulum," ''The Prague Cemetery" and "The Island of the Day Before."
Sorry to hear Umberto Eco has travelled on. Glad he left his genius for us to savor.
— Terry McMillan (@MsTerryMcMillan) February 20, 2016
"We live for books. A sweet mission in this world dominated by disorder and decay."
RIP Umberto Eco.
— Justin Chang (@JustinCChang) February 20, 2016
RIP Umberto Eco, a lighthouse of knowledge and culture. I will really miss his cultural criticism.
— Nina Garcia (@ninagarcia) February 20, 2016
