The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco

The Name of the Rose is the first novel from Umberto Eco. At the front of my book we're told he's a world-famous specialist in semiotics, a distinguished historian, philosopher etc., who teaches at the University of Bologna. Hmm...specialist in semiotics ay! For all I knew, that could just be some kind of Italian pudding. However, on further investigation, it turns out to be "the study of signs and symbols in various fields esp. languages"! Well that explains some of the books inspiration. And that is about as technical as I hope to get. This is not a thesis. It is an op for ordinary readers. Like wot I am! First off, some of you may remember ...

From the outset Eco’s novel, “The Name of the Rose”, is filled with mystery and intrigue. The story, told retrospectively by Adso of Melk, involves the investigation into a series of murders in an unnamed (but famous) monastery in Northern Italy. Adso is a German novice under the instruction of the voluble William of Baskerville: a venerable monk. Although set in Medieval times this a surprisingly modern detective novel in which story unfolds at a carefully regulated pace, and is interspersed with nuggets of philosophy and wisdom. Eco often manipulates the reader into faithfully following an avenue of investigation only to find it ...

I have to admit, I actually saw the film of this before I read the book, and it was good enough. But, as is most often the case, the original work is worlds ahead of the film. Eco's novel is written from the viewpoint of a young German novice, called Adso of Melk, who accompanies William of Baskerville on a special mission to a famous abbey in Italy. There they encounter horrific murders, obscene deviance and terrible intrigue. Yet not only does Eco manage to make this a great and absorbing read(despite the mock-Medieval style) but he also puts in many interesting sections on philosophy and theology. I certainly learnt a thing or two from this book, and it has ...