Umberto Eco Foundation: Bibliography Project

Development of the digital bibliographic system and research framework within the Umberto Eco Foundation portal (also developed by Vibrisse: link), a digital platform dedicated to the life and cultural production of Umberto Eco, featuring genetic databases of works, interactive maps, photographic archives, and advanced consultation systems.

The bibliography presented on the portal is the result of direct archival research, carried out through a shelf verification of editorial data found on the copies preserved in Umberto Eco’s working library and archive.

In homage to the methodological criteria adopted by Eco himself in his author bibliography, this repertory follows a chronological classification: for each text it begins with the first edition, with the addition of the first Italian edition whenever the original publication language differs, and places it in relation to other works through a system of internal cross-references.

This structure allows even non-specialist readers to understand and retrace the main genetic connections that intertwine within Umberto Eco’s works.

The project, carried out under the scientific supervision of Francesca Tancini, is being developed in successive phases. The initial corpus includes more than 200 works written by Eco as author or co-author, in the editions published and translated during his lifetime.

This first section will be followed by the publication of translations and international collections, contributions to miscellanies, paratextual materials (prefaces, afterwords, etc.), as well as articles and contributions to periodicals.

The methodological principles and structural choices underlying the design and construction of the bibliography will be presented and discussed in a methodological note by Filomena Caranci and Margherita Mattioni, which will be updated as the bibliographic sections are progressively published.