The Name of the Rose

Il nome della rosa · 1980

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A medieval murder mystery. A philosophical meditation on truth and interpretation. A labyrinth of signs, symbols, and forbidden knowledge.

Books are not made to be believed, but to be subjected to inquiry.— William of Baskerville

Explore the World

A guide to Umberto Eco's masterpiece

The Author

Umberto Eco — semiotician, novelist, thinker.

The Novel

A murder mystery in a medieval abbey.

Characters

William, Adso, Jorge, and the inhabitants of the abbey.

The Medieval World

The 14th century: faith, heresy, and power.

The Library

A labyrinth of knowledge and forbidden books.

Themes

Truth, interpretation, laughter, and obsession.

Timeline

History, novel, and author — intertwined.

Legacy

A novel that changed literary fiction forever.