Roberto Calasso, Italian writer of dazzling erudition, dies 80

Roberto Calasso, an Italian writer who became known as one of his country’s foremost modern intellectuals, leading an influential publishing house for decades and exploring themes from Greek mythology to Kafka in his own works of dazzling erudition, died July 28 in Milan. He was 80.

Francesca Marson, a spokeswoman for Adelphi Edizioni, where Mr. Calasso had long presided as editorial and managing director, confirmed his death but did not cite a cause.