BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Rose’ an Eco of da Vinci
What do strange murders, centuries-old conspiracies, archaic symbologies and a dark mystery about the existence of an ancient sect bring to mind?
No, it’s not what you think. It’s Umberto Eco’s “The Name of The Rose.”
In the wake of last year – “da Year of da Vinci” – it may seem hard to get excited about a book that appears to follow Dan Brown’s best-selling formula. It’s a shame, too, for a few reasons. The first is that Eco’s book is by far the more intelligent and more historically accurate of the two. The second is that Eco’s monumental mystery was written back in 1985, almost 20 years BD (before DaVinci). In short, he got there first.
Like Brown’s novel, Eco’s book is a dazzlingly suspenseful read, following the adventures of a young detective, Adso of Melk, as he investigates a baffling series of murders in a medieval abbey. Secret passageways, dark secrets and bizarre twists ensue as Eco unfolds an extraordinary adventure. You’ll agonize over a variety of clues with Adso and be stunned by the surprise ending.
Eco’s exuberant style hearkens back to the old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries we all once loved reading (admit it!).
With that said, it should be noted that “The Name of The Rose” is not a pop mystery. Eco’s expertise is medieval history, and his story is inundated with real people, historical sects and even a few Latin phrases. Think Hardy Boys meets the Encyclopedia Britannica. It doesn’t take long into the book to realize that Eco is a certifiable genius with an enormous knowledge base. Rather than making the text impenetrable, though, this erudition simply deepens the excitement of the book. Check out “The Guide to The Name of The Rose” from the Merril-Cazier Library, or glance at one of the many online guides to look up references you don’t know. I was skeptical at first, but as I got into it, I discovered how engrossing the mystery really is. Think of it as a challenge: one in which you must not only be a passive reader, but a bit of a detective. Both the online and printed guides to the book are extremely easy to use and provide an added depth and richness to the text.
The only shortcoming that Eco’s mystery has is its occasional long-windedness. At times, Eco’s brilliance gets the better of him, making a few passages almost feel like portions of your history textbook written in dialogue. These passages can be tedious, but they can’t be skipped over – they contain important clues to the mystery. Overall, however, these passages are very few and far between.
Despite these flaws, “The Name of The Rose” has enough intrigue and suspense to keep the book exciting. For the patient and methodical reader, it provides a terrific and unique brand of mystery.
Ben Clarke is a book critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments can be sent
to benclarke@cc.usu.edu