Umberto Eco's 'The Name of the Rose' at 45: A Reassessment
As Umberto Eco's novel 'The Name of the Rose' approaches its 50th anniversary, critics Bruno Pischedda and Anita Romanello reflect on its enduring legacy. Published in 1980, the book sparked intense debates about whether it was an open or closed work, its representation of the European Middle Ages, and the tension between comedy and catastrophe. Central to the discussion was the conflict between Aristotle's hypothetical second book of the Poetics and the Book of Revelation. The novel's initial reception focused on these interpretive questions, which continue to shape its critical appraisal.
Key facts
- The Name of the Rose was published in 1980 by Umberto Eco.
- The novel is approaching its 50th anniversary.
- Critics Bruno Pischedda and Anita Romanello authored the reassessment.
- Early debates questioned whether the novel was an open or closed work.
- The novel's representation of the European Middle Ages was a key topic.
- The conflict between comedy and catastrophe was a central theme.
- The novel juxtaposes Aristotle's hypothetical second book of the Poetics with the Book of Revelation.
- The reassessment appears on doppiozero.com.
Entities
Artists
- Umberto Eco
- Bruno Pischedda
- Anita Romanello
Institutions
- doppiozero