611 pages
English language
Published June 26, 1984 by Warner.
The year is 1327. Franciscans in a wealthy Italian abbey are suspected of heresy, and Brother William of Baskerville arrives to investigate. His delicate mission is suddenly overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths that take place in seven days and night of apocalyptic terror. The body of one monk is found in a cask of pigs' blood, another is floating in a bathhouse, still another is crushed at the foot of a cliff.
A wonderful, distinctive tale. Although it has the deep research of a historical novel, it's really a detective story.
Must be ready for deep literary devices though: page-long descriptions and passages in actual Latin.
It's a murder mystery set in a 14th century Italian monastery. It's Eco's thesis on symbols and faith. It drags at times, but the whole picture is such a well constructed story that gives you a great basis to appreciate Eco's later works (which are sometimes a response to this book's success).
Big surprise, I loved this book. It was an entertaining yarn with humor and poignancy, insight and farce, accessible mystery and esoteric theology!
It is interesting that I read it now instead of years ago when I bought it. In that time between purchase and reading, I have read other works that prepared me for this!
Some books truly are better further along in one's reading career
Hm, tak tohle ne. Film mám rád, ale knihu jsem dočíst nedokázal. Ta spousta keců okolo byla prostě k zbláznění nezáživná.
