Umberto Eco was an Italian author and professor who wrote books about language, culture, and philosophy. He studied important works that have existed for centuries, like medieval texts and ancient stories, and explored why these stories were still relevant today. He wanted to help people understand the meaning of culture and how different people saw the world. He wrote books like "The Name of the Rose" and "Foucault's Pendulum" to teach people about things like symbolism and language. Through his work, he showed everyone how cultures from different places and times are able to communicate with each other to build a better future.