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  • The Name of the Rose

  • By: Umberto Eco
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 21 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,395 ratings)
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The Name of the Rose cover art

The Name of the Rose

By: Umberto Eco
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Summary

This hugely engaging story of murder, superstition, religious politics and drama in a medieval monastery was one of the most striking novels to appear in the 1980s. The Name of the Rose is a thrilling story enriched with period detail and laced with tongue-in-cheek allusions to fictional characters, the most striking of which is the Franciscan friar William of Baskerville, who displays many characteristics of Sherlock Holmes. Although he looks at the past through a postmodern lens, Eco catapults his listeners into the dark medieval world as Brother William tries to discover why people are dying inexplicably and nastily in the monastery. There is something not altogether right within the library that is the pride of the establishment.... The old man Adso, who was an impressionable novice at the time, tells the story.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©1980 Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri-Bompiani, Sonzongo, Etas S.p.A (P)2013 Naxos AudioBooks

What listeners say about The Name of the Rose

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

History brought to life, even if it drags sometimes.

This is a very unusual book. The story is simple but draws in the feeling and experience of 14th century Europe. If you like a bit of a mystery but enjoy your history too this is for you.
Down side: certain sections go on and on for about 30 mins at a time about one single book, picture, thought etc. These really dragged for me and I zoned out at these points.
However, I learnt a huge amount which I value and enjoyed the main characters a lot.
If you have the patience for the slower sections it is well worth it.

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36 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sean Barrett does justice to this wonderful text.

This production of this labyrinthine novel is magnificent. Wonderful characters from Mr Barrett which create the world in a terrific manner. The sort of reading that makes you want to write a review.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Performer!

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

The performer, Mr Sean Barrett, made this story even greater. I highly recommend the book and the performer.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning work on many levels

Eco writes for those who have time to revel in words, images and ideas. Always fresh, rewarding, thought-provoking and worth returning to after a gap of years. Not for those who like a rapid paced novel... well read and very enjoyable.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Atmospheric, Erudite & Eclectic - a Treasure

Would you consider the audio edition of The Name of the Rose to be better than the print version?

Few audiobooks are 'better' than their analogue progenitors. But this audio version allows the listener to imagine a different landscape. Not 'better' but a very welcomed addition to my Eco library.

What did you like best about this story?

It is challenging - on one level a simple historical whodunnit, on another, a deeper investigation into the nature of knowledge, of assumption versus deliberation, of belief versus empirical study. And, it's long enough to really become absorbed within it. Plus, it introduced Eco to many non-Italian speakers for the first time.

Which character – as performed by Sean Barrett – was your favourite?

Adso, the neophyte.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Some pages are best left unturned...

Any additional comments?

When, please, will we get Tim Curry's narration of 'Foucault's Pendulum'? Or any other reputable artiste? I have the cassette version from the early 1990s but would love a digital edition. Come on, please, Audible!

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping enough to make the slow bits worthwhile

Would you listen to The Name of the Rose again? Why?

I would. I suspect I missed out on quite a bit by zoning out during the extended treatises on the state of the mediaeval Church, the apocalypse and so on.

What did you like best about this story?

It's a whodunnit, and it's very well structured to keep you guessing till the end.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

I am losing the will to live.

I have listened to a couple of hours of this word strapped book, I have just reached the point where the monk comes upon a scene or something - I cannot be sure what as I lost concentration, he says 'I have hardly the words to describe it', and he then proceeds to describe it for TWELVE MINUTES. I hate to think how long he would have taken if he COULD have found words to describe it.
I cannot bear the thought of another 19 hours of this nonsense, listening to four words of intelligence wrapped in 20 minutes of rubbish. I also find the Latin parts to be difficult to follow, my schoolgirl Latin left me long ago.
I wish I had listened to the negative comments on Amazon.

I am not having any luck in the 2 for 1 bargains! I really should learn!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping, complex

Classic who done it, in a rich landscape of medieval monks and religious symbolism. Welcome to umberto eco's debut novel

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Can't take any more

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who doesn't mind listening to incredible detail about monastic orders.

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

Sean Barrett, as always, is superb.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom

Any additional comments?

This book is highly rated by many people, but it just isn't for me. It is so slow and ponderous it's agonising. I've stuck it out for 3 hours but I just can't take any more.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A good bed time listen.

This book, I'm sorry to say, sent me into a kind of mind numbness. I started to listen in bed and started to nod off. The story seemed flat, the narration monotone and overall soporific. My verdict, disappointed, I had been looking forward to listening to the story after many people praised both the book and the author. Disappointed very disappointed.

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7 people found this helpful