The Name of the Rose

Umberto Eco

Jun 2012 · Random House

About this ebook

Read the enthralling medieval murder mystery.

The year is 1327. Franciscans in a wealthy Italian abbey are suspected of heresy, and Brother William of Baskerville arrives to investigate. When his delicate mission is suddenly overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths, Brother William turns detective.

William collects evidence, deciphers secret symbols and coded manuscripts, and digs into the eerie labyrinth of the abbey where extraordinary things are happening under the cover of night. A spectacular popular and critical success, The Name of the Rose is not only a narrative of a murder investigation but an astonishing chronicle of the Middle Ages.

'Whether you're into Sherlock Holmes, Montaillou, Borges, the nouvelle critique, the Rule of St. Benedict, metaphysics, library design, or The Thing from the Crypt, you'll love it' Sunday Times

Ratings and reviews

This novel is best enjoyed in tandem with watching the movie (Sean Connery as Baskevill and Christian Slater as Adso) or the 2019 8-part series with John Turturo as Baskevill. Mesmerizing glimpse into divisions in Christian catholism in medieval 13th century into papal supporters, Franciscans, Beneditines, Dominicans, Heretics and the frightening inquisitors. For the uninitiated, the microcosm of lives of monks and the hierachy in an Abbey. The fixed daily routines of work, prayers, singing, copying work in the library. These, as mentioned, are the mesmerizing backdrop to the murder mystery that stretched over seven days. We see lust manifested as a sin, not just for the flesh, but anything, including forbidden books driving the person to obtain his prize at all cost. We see hideous Salvatore resorting to black magic to trap a young beautiful peasant, we see 6 monks murdered over a book and one sacrificing himself to prevent William of Baskeville from obtaining the book .

The narrative is deep and wordy and plods along in many places, and that sort of left me impatient to get to the crux of what was about to happen. A great companion to the visual spectacle of the television drama of the same name starring John Turturro.

Not an easy read and a bit boring and too detailed in places but couldn't have been too bad or I wouldn't have got to the end

About the author

Umberto Eco (1932–2016) wrote fiction, literary criticism and philosophy. His first novel, The Name of the Rose, was a major international bestseller. His other works include Foucault's Pendulum, The Island of the Day Before, Baudolino, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, The Prague Cemetery and Numero Zero along with many brilliant collections of essays.