From the Tree to the Labyrinth

Copyright © 2014 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College

All rights reserved

Originally published as Dall’albero al labirinto: Studi storici sul segno e l’interpretazione, by Umberto Eco, copyright © 2007 RCS Libri S.p.A.

Chapters 11 and 12, “The Language of the Austral Land” and “The Linguistics of Joseph de Maistre,” were originally published in Serendipities, by Umberto Eco, translated by William Weaver. Copyright © 1998 by Columbia University Press. Reprinted with permission of the publisher.

Jacket design: Graciela Galup

Jacket art: Magdolna Ban, Mystic (2004), oil on canvas. Private collection / The Bridgeman Art Library.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:

Eco, Umberto.

[Dall’albero al labirinto. English]

From the tree to the labyrinth : historical studies on the sign and interpretation / Umberto Eco ; translated by Anthony Oldcorn.

pages cm

“Originally published as Dall’albero al labirinto: Studi storici sul segno e l’interpretazione, by Umberto Eco, © 2007 RCS Libri S.p.A.”

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-674-04918-5 (alk. paper)

1. Semiotics—History. 2. Language and languages—Philosophy—History. I. Oldcorn, Anthony, translator. II. Title.

P99.E2613 2014

121'.68—dc23

2013015258