The Name of the Rose

Umberto Eco was born in 1932 in Alessandria, Italy. He is a professor of semiotics at the University of Bologna, a philosopher, historian, literary critic and aesthetician. He is the author of the international bestselling novelsThe Name of the Rose and The Island of the Day Before, as well as three collections of popular essays,Travels in Hyperreality, Misreadings and How to Travel with a Salmon & Other Essays. Mr. Eco lives in Milan.

Theodore Bikel began his acting career at the Habimah Theatre in Israel. He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and appeared in several West End productions, includingA Streetcar Named Desire. In America, Mr. Bikel has starred in numerous Broadway hits, includingThe Sound of Music, Zorba and Fiddler on the Roof. He has made some 35 motion pictures, and has guest-starred in almost every top dramatic television series. An accomplished concert and recording artist, Mr. Bikel also makes over 60 concert appearances each year, and has recorded 20 albums.