Commentaires client les plus utiles
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11 internautes sur 12 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
Not a status symbol, Mars 24 2006
I am confused by those who wrote that people only say they read this book because they want to sound smart. I hate to break it to you, but this book is actually good and enjoyable, and I hope you will try again. This book is for people who love mysteries, but are frustrated at how fast they are read. Christies go in a day, as does Da Vinci Code, whereas this one has more to chew and the mystery doesn't insult your intelligence like the "Da Vinci Code" (e.g., reminding you that Da Vinci is Italian, that Paris is indeed in France, etc.). I mean, I don't get daunted by long books anymore because I like the act of reading itself, and having a long book means not having to look for another for awhile. Another thing: I took a course on heresy in college, and many of conclusions that can be drawn from this book are right on. The more he discusses the distinctions between the different sects, the less the distinction can be made between holy orders and heretical sects. He really brings you through the whole argument, from different characters' perspectives, so you get the whole picture. I also learned more about the Middle Ages from this book, about how rich their lives were even then, albeit with different information, theories, heroes, etc., than we are used to.
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4 internautes sur 4 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition !, Fév 28 2007
Umberto Eco is internationally renowned as an author, a philosopher, a literary critic and a historian. He is also a professor of Semiotics at the University of Bologna and lives in Milan. "The Name of the Rose", his debut novel, was first published in Italy in 1980 and became a bestseller throughout the world. It was also adapted for the big screen in 1986, a version that starred Sean Connery and Christian Slater.
"The Name of the Rose" is set in the fourteenth century and is told by Adso of Melk - an aged Benedictine Abbot looking back to a journey he took as a novice. Adso's father was a German nobleman loyal to Louis the Bavarian and arranged for the young Adso to travel with him to Italy - there, he hoped to see Louis crowned Holy Roman Emperor. However, with his father's time subsequently taken up with the Siege of Pisa, Adso was placed in the care of William of Baskerville - not only a shrewd, learned and wise Franciscan, but also a former Inquisitor. Together, the pair travel to a Benedictine abbey in the northern Italian mountains.
The arena in which William and Adso operate is at least as political as it is religious. There are great differences of opinion between the orders on a number of topics - the most relevant to the story involves a difference in opinion about poverty between the Franciscan Order and the Pope. Since the Pope and the Emperor don't see eye-to-eye either, Louis has obviously sided with the Franciscans. The Order's Head, Michael of Cesena, has been summoned several times to Avignon - where the Papal Court was held at the time - officially to deal conclusively with the matter. However, since many suspect this would actually involve Michael being charged with heresy, the Emperor feels it best if Michael travels as part of an official Imperial delegation. As the whole matter is proving increasingly difficult to deal with, a preliminary meeting has been arranged to lay out the opposing points of view. William has been appointed the Emperor's representative, and the meeting is taking place at the abbey to which he and Adso are travelling.
As it happens, the pair are given much more to think about than just the meeting. Not long before William and Adso arrived, one of the abbey's most skilled illuminators - Adelmo of Otranto - had been found dead at the foot of some cliffs beneath the abbey. The Abbot suspects the young monk was murdered, and asks William to investigate. Things are not made entirely easy for the pair : although Adelmo may have been pushed to his death from the upper floor of the library, they are forbidden from entering that area. Nevertheless, with the meeting imminent, they know it's vital to have everything cleared up as soon as possible - preferably with out any more deaths...
This is a hugely enjoyable book - the only real flaw is that it's occasionally a little over-descriptive. However, it makes a nice change to read a murder-mystery than relies solely on the skills of the investigator - particularly one as likeable as William - without any help from forensics, fingerprinting or DNA sampling. The 'back-story', relating to the meeting, added a nice political spin to things. It also added a certain amount of panic for some of the characters, as the Pope's representative is also a practising Inquisitor . Very highly recommended.
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1 internautes sur 1 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
Dazzling., Déc 1 2003
I knew nothing of this book when I opened it; I had picked it up literally because I needed something to read and I liked the cover. It completely blew away my expectations. Eco does a stunning job of depicting daily life in the past, even daily life gone awry. This book takes you back in time into the world of the monks, a world that is incredibly deep, lush, and detailed. The characters and the motifs give this plot great flavor; they are all well-developed. Eco narrates with the confidence of an eyewitness observer and clearly knows what he is talking about. Yes, the book is a challenging read, one which will be time consuming. If you're looking for something light and quick, this isn't it. Even so, a lack of knowledge of history or Latin or religion will not keep you from enjoying this book; while I was reading it, the characters themselves taught me about their world. Try to view those background-knowledge challenges as something that makes this book good enough to read twice, and enjoy it!
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