Umberto Eco

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Mentioned as a comparison to the idea that the Black Hand invented elaborate rituals and spy thriller elements specifically to impress the young conspirators.

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Referenced as a comparison to Don DeLillo's Libra, noting that both novels deal with conspiracy theories that are constructed and then seem to become true.

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Described as 'the great novel about conspiracy theories' that takes every great conspiracy theory in history (Knights Templar, Rosicrucians, etc.) and bundles them into one super conspiracy theory

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Referenced as a comparison when discussing the story of Guglielma and Maifreda: 'It's like something out of The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco novel' - used to describe the extraordinary medieval heresy episode.

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Referenced as having a library modeled on Borges's Library of Babel. This is Umberto Eco's novel, though the author is not explicitly mentioned in the transcript.

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Referenced as containing a tribute to English character through William of Baskerville, who is modelled on Sherlock Holmes

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Mentioned alongside The Secret History as one of the great historical novels comparable to An Instance of the Fingerpost.