The Name of the Rose

Rating:
Summary: Too Smart to Be A Novel
Review: Remember when your parents and teachers would try to get you to read? The favored line is that reading "can take you anywhere in the world". Well, that sounds nice, but it never really rang true, especially as books offer only a short term separation from the problems of real life. Well, Umberto Eco's epic novel The Name of the Rose might be one of those few novels that really approaches the suggested transportation powers books can possess. It is such a "thick" novel. Intellectually, it is staggering in its complexity and fluidity. The reader can simply marvel at the range of ideas and logical conversation that Eco includes in this novel. As other reviewers have pointed out, you really do feel smarter upon finishing it. That is the first theme of the book that strikes you, but many more are out there for you to explore.

The actual story of The Name of the Rose (sometimes the story gets lost in the novel) is a classic murder mystery, set in a 14th century Italian abbey. Because of recent political and religious strife in the surrounding areas, the competing powers of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Papal authorities both see importance in this area. Rumors of heresy within the walls abound, a mark the Franciscan friars try their best to avoid. Our main character is the former inquisitor William of Baskerville, an extremely intelligent and learned official, under the employment of the Emperor. With him is his faithful assistant Adso, who is our narrator. Their assignment is to make sense of the conflicting stories people tell about what is in the monastery. Just as they start their investigation, monks start getting killed, in brutal but symbolic ways. William and Adso are forced to use all their powers of logic and deduction to begin to piece together the clues.

The clues point to a dark secret inside the heralded library of the abbey. There, monks toil day after day, reproducing the classics and more modern works. This is where civilization was being saved at the time, in small monasteries which kept alive science and ancient literature. However, somethings that are hidden away in the library are not meant to be seen, and a strangely rigid library control apparatus shields certain works from William. As the murders and the obstinacy of the librarians continue, William becomes more suspicious of the abbey's leadership at large. A conspiracy begins to emerge, one dedicated to the many scriptural and architectural secrets possessed by the Italian abbey. It quickly becomes apparent to William and the reader that what is involved here is much more important than the political issues of the day.

The pure historical swath of The Name of the Rose is hard to even summarize, as it is just immeasurably grand. The reader learns of the medieval church and of a Europe torn apart by theological argument. Messiahs and prophets tour the land, with inquisitors and church officials constantly at work stamping them out. Battle between the secular and divine worlds begin to emerge, as the Popes become more and more involved in the everyday politics of Europe. Eco shows the reader how important ideas were at this time, as theological speculation was by far the most critical arena of thought in that violent era. Ideas concerning the divinity of Christ, the power of the Popes, and the importance of older, "pagan" philosophies were constantly fought over. William is a wonderful guide, as his mind is the window into the age. He is the embodiment of learned divinity, torn between the complex humanism of the ancients and the compelling reality of the present. He is a man of his time, a valuable tool for readers so much removed. The writing itself is absolutely magnificent, as every scene, every setting, every character is rendered in eminently readable caricatures. It's just a novel you shake your head when you put it down, knowing you never will fully understand the brilliance of this book. Go get it, now!

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece - one of my all-time favorite novels!
Review: Forget the movie version of THE NAME OF THE ROSE. This brilliant book by Umberto Eco is meant to be read, absorbed, considered, held close to your chest before you reluctantly put it down. Filled with complexities - philosophy, historical details, superb characterizations - it does not make for easy reading. I'm a seasoned reader of classics and literary fiction, and yet I struggled through the first pages. What a mistake it would have been to give up! Once I reached page 50 or so, I couldn't put it down.

By now, the plot is well known: a monk and his young assistant (the narrator) arrive at a monastery to investigate heresy at the height of the Inquisition. No sooner do they arrive when their focus is shifted to a series of mysterious murders. Who is behind the atrocious acts, and why? Is there greater meaning to the deaths than first appears?

While the suspenseful plot keeps the story moving forward at surprising speed (surprising, given the language and wealth of historical details), the philosophy of the era is the soul of the novel, lending credulity to the characters and their situations as well as having implications for those living in the 21st century. Issues of censorship, free thought, the power of the written word, and the need for rational thought in chaotic times all come into play.

THE NAME OF THE ROSE is a magnificent example of fiction destined to last. I highly recommend it for serious readers of all tastes.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating mystery
Review:

If you have read some of the other reviewers, you will often hear that this book is a difficult, dense read. It does contain many untranslated Latin phrases, but I submit that the main thrust of it is easy to follow, if you simply pay attention to the parts that you do understand, and realize that the characters, a young German novice, Adso, traveling with his English monk "master," William of Baskerville, stop at the Abbey of Melk, in Italy, where a conference in which he will take part, is imminent. Throughout the book the religious viewpoint is dominant, as one might expect since religious matters dominated much of philosophy as well as theology in the early 1300s, where the tale is placed.

William is to be involved in a conference between representatives of the Pope, John XXII, and the Emperor of France, who are in conflict over matters of church doctrine. William is representing the interests of the Emperor, in the role of a conciliator.

There is much dialogue in The Name of the Rose about conflicting doctrine and splinter groups in the church, many of which the mother church, primarily through the person of the Pope, declare to be heretics.

If this sounds deadly dull to the reader, it is not as bad as it might sound. Indeed, given the history of that time--much of which is related here--it plays a large part in the mystery itself.

The story is told through the eyes of Adso, the novice, who wrote the manuscript the story was found in, supposedly, as an old man long after the occurences it descibes.

Murders in the abbey play a central role in the story, and William, as a former Inquisitor, is tasked with their solution by the Abbot, Abo. Involved is the abbey's library, which is off limits to all save the librarian and his assistant (the latter becomes one of the murder victims) and the monks employed in the Scriptorium, where they copy and illuminate the library's treasured volumes--one of the greatest collections in the world at that time.

I find this book to be gripping, despite my lack of knowledge of Latin, and not too difficult to follow. The viewpoint of Adso is that, one quickly discovers, is based upon his view of the world as he sees it, given only the knowledge that a fourteenth century youth would actually have. They say it has been made into a movie. I will have to get a copy, to see if it does justice to the book.

I have developed an interest in the work of Umberto Eco, the author, and will have to read some of his other works.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of The Road to Damascu: Our Journey Through Eternity
and other books

Rating:
Summary: Millennial Angst
Review: This is not a proper review, more a couple of comments about things which the first few reviewers missed (I didn't read all 157 reviews).

One of Umberto Eco's perennial themes, expressed elsewhere in essays, is what he sees as the the similarity between the society of the "dark ages" and that of today. For instance he draws explicit parallels between the heretics and utopian communities of the past and contemporary cults such as Jim Jones, the SLA, the Red Brigades and so forth. This book needs to be read in the light of that; it's not just a historical novel about monks.

There are also obvious references to the work of Borges in this novel, as well as to Sherlock Holmes (William of Baskerville?).

And of course the theme of rationalism versus superstition (not to mention religious war) has been brought into considerably sharper focus by world events since the book was written.

Overall, I can't see why people regard this as a hard book to read. Although there is a lot of historical background, (accurate rather than as some have suggested pseudo-philosophical or invented) it's presented in a vivid and entertaining way, the story keeps you turning the pages, and it's surely the only serious novel to include a recipe for fried cheese.

Rating:
Summary: Too Smart to Be A Novel
Review: Remember when your parents and teachers would try to get you to read? The favored line is that reading "can take you anywhere in the world". Well, that sounds nice, but it never really rang true, especially as books offer only a short term separation from the problems of real life. Well, Umberto Eco's epic novel The Name of the Rose might be one of those few novels that really approaches the suggested transportation powers books can possess. It is such a "thick" novel. Intellectually, it is staggering in its complexity and fluidity. The reader can simply marvel at the range of ideas and logical conversation that Eco includes in this novel. As other reviewers have pointed out, you really do feel smarter upon finishing it. That is the first theme of the book that strikes you, but many more are out there for you to explore.

The actual story of The Name of the Rose (sometimes the story gets lost in the novel) is a classic murder mystery, set in a 14th century Italian abbey. Because of recent political and religious strife in the surrounding areas, the competing powers of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Papal authorities both see importance in this area. Rumors of heresy within the walls abound, a mark the Franciscan friars try their best to avoid. Our main character is the former inquisitor William of Baskerville, an extremely intelligent and learned official, under the employment of the Emperor. With him is his faithful assistant Adso, who is our narrator. Their assignment is to make sense of the conflicting stories people tell about what is in the monastery. Just as they start their investigation, monks start getting killed, in brutal but symbolic ways. William and Adso are forced to use all their powers of logic and deduction to begin to piece together the clues.

The clues point to a dark secret inside the heralded library of the abbey. There, monks toil day after day, reproducing the classics and more modern works. This is where civilization was being saved at the time, in small monasteries which kept alive science and ancient literature. However, somethings that are hidden away in the library are not meant to be seen, and a strangely rigid library control apparatus shields certain works from William. As the murders and the obstinacy of the librarians continue, William becomes more suspicious of the abbey's leadership at large. A conspiracy begins to emerge, one dedicated to the many scriptural and architectural secrets possessed by the Italian abbey. It quickly becomes apparent to William and the reader that what is involved here is much more important than the political issues of the day.

The pure historical swath of The Name of the Rose is hard to even summarize, as it is just immeasurably grand. The reader learns of the medieval church and of a Europe torn apart by theological argument. Messiahs and prophets tour the land, with inquisitors and church officials constantly at work stamping them out. Battle between the secular and divine worlds begin to emerge, as the Popes become more and more involved in the everyday politics of Europe. Eco shows the reader how important ideas were at this time, as theological speculation was by far the most critical arena of thought in that violent era. Ideas concerning the divinity of Christ, the power of the Popes, and the importance of older, "pagan" philosophies were constantly fought over. William is a wonderful guide, as his mind is the window into the age. He is the embodiment of learned divinity, torn between the complex humanism of the ancients and the compelling reality of the present. He is a man of his time, a valuable tool for readers so much removed. The writing itself is absolutely magnificent, as every scene, every setting, every character is rendered in eminently readable caricatures. It's just a novel you shake your head when you put it down, knowing you never will fully understand the brilliance of this book. Go get it, now!

Rating:
Summary: Tedious but worth reading
Review: Though at times painfully tedious in its detail of 14th century Catholic theology and annoyingly esoteric in its numerous passages in Latin, I feel I must give this book a positive recommendation. Its grand scope of chronicling such an obscure period, its depth of research, and its feeling of authenticity give this book the right to be considered an epic of modern fiction. As far as mysteries go, this one certainly is not the most intriguing. It drags at times, and the final revelations are neither startling nor intricate in their conception. But as a period piece, this is a 500-pound gorilla. It's amazing to think of the amount of scholarly research that went into the making of this novel. How many hours did Eco have to spend studying the writings of Aristotle, Aquinas, and who knows how many Franciscan and Benedictine theologians?

I have to admit I came close to putting this book down after 100 pages. I'm glad I didn't, though it was a struggle the whole way through. There were a few too many characters, and at times I couldn't keep track of all the different monks, but fortunately they start to get killed off pretty quickly so there are fewer to remember.

The underlying theme is an important one to me. The book explores the medieval notion that religious faith and intellectual pursuits should be mutually exclusive. Imagine living your life as a monk, working in a library surrounded by thousands of scholarly works, and spending your days copying texts that you don't understand. The preservation of knowledge is a noble goal, but so is the advancement of our understanding of the universe.

Rating:
Summary: Oh Wonderment . . .This is such stuff as dreams are made on!
Review: I hate mysteries. I really do. I'm terribly sorry but that is the honest to goodness truth. This is different; obviously or why in God's name would I have bothered to read it?

Struck by the phrase "apocolyptic terror" I impulsively bought it and immediately began to read, foresaking all previoius engagements, hoping against hope that I had finally found a mystery that followed a path not yet trodden.

Well, being a student of Thomas Aquinas I was immediately impressed at finding dear William to be a Thomist. Wonderful! Well done Eco! Now, about the story... I loved it, I read while I ought to have slept, I read while I ate, I read while I walked on the treadmill... I read and I read and... then I finished it. And as I closed the book I heaved a sigh. I missed William, and Adso, and oh the glories of a library labyrinth!

The Name of the Rose was an extraordinarily crafted tale that was so intensely layered and richly related that I am compelled to quote Anthony Burgess "No man should know that much."

Eco has effortlessly transported us into a time that so few truly grasp. The blind faith of the people; the ease with which the simple strayed; the vanity of the knowledge that in those days meant power. Aside from a difficult mystery with a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, this story held fascinating philosophical debates that penetrated depths of history of which I have never even heard. This novel is not merely a mystery or an historical fiction, it is a philosophical and psychological study that occasionally leads you to sit and think and any book that leads to contemplation is a rare treasure.

This is the first of Eco's works that I have had the pleasure to enjoy but I intend to find and read all the rest. What a master! What a mind!

Rating:
Summary: A rose by any other name?
Review: First: An answer to a rather negative reviewer's cluelessness about the title. Obviously he/she didn't bother to read Eco's Postscript in which he says, among other things, "I liked it because the rose is a symbolic figure so rich in meaning that by now it hardly has any meaning left" and "A title must muddle the reader's ideas, not regiment them." It is generally a wise idea to read a book in its entirety before reviewing it.

I fancied the book for the most part. It is much like Eco's other work, rich in (to me) fascinating historic detail, which, as another reviewer has pointed out, is not mere historic detail, but rather pertains poignantly to our own day and age. But I have the opposite of what seems to be the other reviewers' problem with the novel. The "detective story" somewhat detracted from the novel rather than vice-versa. One catches whiffs of the Brother Cadfael series here and there and some rather transparent Hollywood/BBC plot props which rather detract from one's appreciation. But I suppose this is the reason it is the only one of Eco's books to be made into a film. In the end, if you truly enjoy literature and reflection, any of Eco's other novels are far superior to this one. On the other hand, if you enjoy detective stories and strong plotlines than this is no doubt the only work of his for you. But I shan't try to regiment things either for the prospective reader. Perhaps you'll find some special nuances here that a necessarily brief review like this one can't cover. -- 4 Rosy Stars.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the Rose?
Review: I read the Divinci Code and learned that the word "Rose" has a special connotation in Christian history (or fiction). Friends told me that the "The Name of the Rose" broached the same subject. After reading the entire book, I don't see the connection. In fact, I didn't notice a single reference, literal or otherwise, to a rose. I waited for the the climax when the "secret" is unveiled and felt a let down because it had nothing to do with my expectation.

The book is marvelous in its detail and depiction of the times of the Inquisition - how far the Church departed from its mission of Christ.

Rating:
Summary: Worst book I have read in at least 20 years
Review: I'm being nice here. I feel guilty for wasting so much of my life reading this crap. Don't believe the hype.

I have read that this book is "The Da Vinci Code" for people in Mensa. Well I am in Mensa and let me tell you that when I was nearing the end I was more interested in finishing it so I could paste this review than finding out the riddle to the mystery.

If you came here cause of "The Da Vinci Code" read "Angels and Demons". If you already did that, do something more exciting than reading this book like stare at the walls for 16 hours. Just do not read this book.

I was lured into reading it by the basis premise of murder mystery in a monastery, the library which no one can go into, what is in the library, et cetera. Unfortunately, that is about 200 pages and that part was pretty decent. The other 300 pages is about 14th century monks philosophising about religion and political issues of the day. If that interests you, today is your lucky day. If you are the other 5,499,999,973 of us, run for the hills.