The Name of the Rose

By Umberto Eco

Now available in a deluxe edition featuring never-before-seen illustrations by the author: the beloved internationally bestselling historical mystery about a brilliant monk called upon to solve a series of baffling murders in a fourteenth-century Italian abbey “Explodes with pyrotechnic inventions, literally as well as figuratively. Hold on till the end.” —New York Times “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. Who can that miss out?” —Sunday Times (London) Italy, 1347. While Brother William of Baskerville is investigating accusations of heresy at a wealthy abbey, his inquiries are disrupted by a series of bizarre deaths. Turning his practiced detective skills to finding the killer, he relies on logic (Aristotle), theology (Thomas Aquinas), empirical insights (Roger Bacon), and his own wry humor and ferocious curiosity. With the aid of his young apprentice, William scours the abbey, from its stables to the labyrinthine library, piecing together evidence, and deciphering cryptic symbols and coded manuscripts to uncover the truth about this place where "the most interesting things happen at night." First published in 1980, The Name of the Rose became an international sensation, beguiling readers around the world with its mix of history, humor, and intellectual heft. This beautifully designed modern edition, illustrated with exclusive original drawings created by Umberto Eco, will enchant a new generation of readers and entice old fans to fall under its spell once again.

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Published Jul 11, 2023

Average rating: 6.23

57 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Bryna
The first time I read this was just after returning to New Mexico after living in Ireland. I saw Jojo Rabbit with a friend and he said it reminded him of The Name of the Rose. It proved to be an interesting comparison. I've read it a couple of times since and briefly owned 2 copies (I lent one to someone who never returned it, alas). I love Eco's worldbuilding. It's a fun read for Advent if you have time. There's also a good study guide which is helpful for staying caught up to the historical and theological context--invaluable, even to a medievalist.
beatrice-vanessa
9/10 stars
LOVED IT !!! Probably one of my favorite book. The plot was truly interesting and it was also fun trying to look up the latin traduction and the real historical context behind this fictional story. So even though it isn't an easy read, if you're naturally curious about history and language, then I think it's worth it.
grldchz
6/10 stars
The main story kept me interested. Super cool library / labyrinth. Dense and slow; the erudition of Christian heresies was almost insufferable. It mostly came together in the end and I'm glad I stuck around.

This book helped me think about language, meaning, and translation. Made me wish I understood Latin.
Jossed
10/10 stars
My favorite book and author.
taisiia
8/10 stars
The book definitely has a scholastic feel, it wasn't an easy read for me. It is challenging in terms of keeping up with the historic and religious background, but it is definitely excellent in terms of its genre.

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