Foucault's Pendulum - Umberto Eco

The Knights Templar (320 words)
by littleemma - written on 05/05/02, updated on 26/02/04 (Useful, 207 readings)
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What a fascinating books ... Umberto Eco is probably known most for his "medieval thriller" called "The Name of the Rose" or rather for the film version starring Sean Connery which doesn't quite do justice to the book. Although "The Name of the Rose" definitely is a very great book, "Foucault's Pendulum" certainly deserves to be called greater. When I started reading the book, it took me a few chapters to get used to the great amount of information that is given to the reader very quickly - but it did not take me too long to get used to this and to be entirely involved in the story before I even realised it had started. ...

The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco

Intrigue and mystery in the Middle Ages (238 words)
by scribus impius - written on 19/12/00, updated on 19/12/00 (Useful, 177 readings)
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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 prompted me to do more ...

The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco

A Medieval Sherlock Holmes? (88 words)
by janharper - written on 31/10/00, updated on 31/10/00 (Useful, 130 readings)
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Its really quite hard to describe this novel because its more of an experience than just a book to read! Can you imagine a Medieval Sherlock Holmes who lives in a monestary and is a monk? Well that's what our detective is. He solves murders of other monks, all in a medieveal monastical setting. If you think this sounds weird, ...