Umberto Eco was an Italian medievalist, philosopher, semiotician, novelist, cultural critic, and political and social commentator. In English, he is best known for his popular 1980 novel The Name of the Rose, a historical mystery combining semiotics in fiction with biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory, as well as Foucault's Pendulum, his 1988 novel which touches on similar themes.
Eco wrote prolifically throughout his life, with his output including children's books, translations from French and English, in addition to a twice-monthly newspaper column "La Bustina di Minerva" (Minerva's Matchbook) in the magazine L'Espresso beginning in 1985, with his last column (a critical appraisal of the Romantic paintings of Francesco Hayez) appearing 27 January 2016. At the time of his death, he was an Emeritus professor at the University of Bologna, where he taught for much of his life. In the 21st century, he has continued to gain recognition for his 1995 essay "Ur-Fascism", where Eco lists fourteen general properties he believes comprise fascist ideologies.
Μόνο το μισό βιβλίο, όπου προς το παρόν τα μυστήρια κορυφώνονται, κυριολεκτικά μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα. Περιλαμβάνονται οι 3 πρώτες μέρες, με τα πτώματα και τα ερωτηματικά να αυξάνονται, το πέπλο μυστηρίου πέφτει ολοένα και πιο πυκνό, ενώ καταλαβαίνουμε ότι οι μοναχοί ξέρουν πολλά αλλά λένε ελάχιστα. Η γλώσσα και οι περιγραφές είναι επίσης επικές.
Πρόκειται για την επίσημη έκδοση, σε μετάφραση της Έφης Καλλιφατίδη που είχε κυκλοφορήσει πριν χρόνια από εφημερίδα (και το βρήκα τυχαία στη βιβλιοθήκη), που μεταφέρεται πιο εύκολα για όσους βολεύονται να διαβάζουν έξω.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco adapted for the BBC Magnificent chef d’oeuvre.
Many, many years ago The Name of the Rose was the book that people I know wanted desperately to read. It was in the days of the communist regime and books were hard to get, never mind one with so many subversive themes…
- What themes by the way? - It is difficult to name what major subject is absent here - There is love- homosexual mainly, for the fling between Adso and a village girl is more a carnal attraction- sin, the poverty –or not- of Christ, the Inquisition, passion for books, murder…and so much more
What distinguishes this thriller from almost all the books in that genre is the erudition, the compelling scholarship with which the author wrote this masterpiece. And evidently, this is not really a crime story, although my teacher of Literature memorably stated that: - There is a crime story in every masterpiece - I am thinking the book I like most: Remembrance of Things Past and there is no detective tale there…
The most important character is a reference to the famous Sherlock Holmes, which I have read that inspired Umberto Eco. In fact, the fabulous knowledge and genius of Umberto Eco is so impressive, even when playful, that it is almost scary.
- How much am I really getting out of this book? - This is the question that comes to mind in the evidence of so many hidden symbols and messages that escape the ordinary reader
William of Baskerville is surely a positive personage, but what makes him more appealing are his dark side and humor. He used to be an Inquisitor, alas, and that is why he is asked to investigate and solve the murders that take place in a monastery. The place of worship, against all odds is festering with sins, forbidden desires and actions that take extreme forms. Counter intuitively, the most scholarly of the brothers are the most despicable, even when they try to read or protect precious manuscripts.
There is a dispute, with the arrival of warring factions that need to dispute the opposing views on the religious doctrine
- One side argues in favor of poverty - This is what the church is for- heavenly preoccupations with disregard for wealth - While the others are in favor of property - Christ after all had his clothes and paid for something…I forgot what and where - The clash has the fighting rivals drawing weapons
I will not go into who killed his “brothers”. In fact, in a way that seems to be the least important aspect, a sort of pretext for this large fresco of human greed, love of learning, lust and more.
Having heard an adaptation this time, much of the grandeur, the majesty of the epic novel is lost here, with the advantage that I could keep better track of some of the monks and who dies for what reason.