"The Name of the Rose" by Umberto EcoA topical guide This guide is intended to provide an overview of information related to Umberto Eco's literary novel "The Name of the Rose" in order to better bring to life the world and concepts encountered in this work, as well as to point the interested reader towards useful resources for further study,
Originally published in 1980 in Italian and translated to English in 1983 by William Weaver, "The Name of the Rose" is at times a murder mystery, thriller, historical account, and illustration of the author's main area of interest- the study of semiotics. It follows two monks in fourteenth century Europe who are called as envoys to a monastery at which a diplomatic meeting is to take place. However, while there, a string of murders occur which lead the abbot to involve the visitors, one of which is known for his deductive and investigative prowess, in an investigation of the resident monks into these nefarious circumstances. |
“Books are not made to be believed, but to be subjected to inquiry. When we consider a book, we mustn't ask ourselves what it says but what it means...”
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Compiled by Dan Przybylak, September 2019