Belbo

Belbo is a fictional character created by Italian writer Italo Calvino. He appears prominently in Calvino's novel "If on a winter's night a traveler" as one of the twin protagonists. Belbo is a bookseller, and his primary role in the narrative is to guide the reader, referred to as the "You," through a series of incomplete novels. He is depicted as a somewhat anxious and introspective individual, deeply immersed in the world of books and literature.

Throughout the novel, Belbo's personal life and his search for a woman named Ludmilla become intertwined with the quest for the missing chapters of the various books. His character serves as a foil to the other protagonist, the Professor, and together they embark on a metafictional journey exploring themes of reading, authorship, and the nature of storytelling. Belbo's narrative arc involves a growing sense of unease and a confrontation with the elusive nature of reality and fiction. His name itself has been interpreted in various ways, often linked to concepts of silence or emptiness.