The Name of the Rose

By: Umberto Eco

Narrated by: Theodore Bikel

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

The year is 1327. Franciscans in a wealthy Italian abbey are suspected of heresy, and Brother William of Baskerville arrives to investigate. But his delicate mission is suddenly overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths that take place in seven days and nights of apocalyptic terror. Brother William turns detective, and a uniquely deft one at that. His tools are the logic of Aristotle, the theology of Aquinas, the empirical insights of Roger Bacon - all sharpened to a glistening edge by his wry humor and ferocious curiosity. He collects evidence, deciphers secret symbols, and coded manuscripts, and digs into the eerie labyrinth of the abbey, where "the most interesting things happen at night."

As Brother William goes about unraveling the mystery of what happens at they abbey by day and by night, listeners step into a brilliant re-creation of the 14th century, with its dark superstitions and wild prejudices, its hidden passions and sordid intrigues. Virtuoso storyteller Umberto Eco conjures up a gloriously rich portrait of this world with such grace, ease, wit, and love that you will become utterly intoxicated with the place and time. The story is performed by Theodore Bikel who has starred in numerous Broadway hits, including The Sound of Music, Zorba, and Fiddler on the Roof.

©1983 by Harcourt Brace & Company and Martin Secker & Warburg Limited; 1980 by Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri-Bompiani, Snzogno, Etas S.p.A. (P)1985 by Audio Renaissance Tapes, a Division of Cassette Productions Unlimited, Inc.

My favorite audiobook

The audio version, abridged, is nice because it makes it more accessible. Reading the book can be daunting for someone who is not well acquainted with history and classical languages. The audio version eliminates a lot of the philosophy arguments between the characters. The narrator is fantastic. His voice is rich and mellow. I have found this to be my favorite companion on nights when sleep eludes me.

Engaging & Complex Story Not Well Delivered

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

Not with this narrator and not abridged. While this abridged version sticks to the high points and the main story it seems that much is left out so that it is something of a comic book version of the original.

What didn’t you like about Theodore Bikel’s performance?

I really tried to like Bikel's performance. His english is clear and he has an accent that should make the story telling more mysterious. However, he is so monotone that all the characters and the story itself falls flat.

Any additional comments?

I remember this book, from years ago, as being a complex and interesting tapestry of history, politics, religion, philosophy & mystery. This version covers all those things but in a way that doesn't capture any of the depth or intrigue. I was also disappointed in how the main character was portrayed and this may be a problem with the Eco's writing that I just don't recall. William of Baskerville is a stand in for Shelock Holmes and intended to apply logical pricipals of problem solving to the mysterious of the Abbey. Yet, unlike Holmes, he is confounded in all but the simplist of problems and thwarted at every turn. Perhaps, it is simply Ecco's way of saying philosophy, religion, politics, logic, etc all mean nothing. In the end, a good idea that could have been much better implemented.

Abridged but fantastic!

I do not usually like abridged books but this specific one is fantastic. If you have read or listened to the unabridged Name of the Rose, you know it contains information overload. Between the philosophical discussions and Latin phrases, it can be a tough book to read. This abridgment leaves the story intact but cuts the academics . The narrator is great. He conveys the emotion and the personalities and at the same his voice has a very relaxing quality to it.

Great for night-time listening!

I purchased this novel based on some vague memories of the old Sean Connery movie. I was not disappointed. A very fast, suspensful listen. Imagine Sherlock Holmes as an Italian Monk and you've got the idea. I found that listening in the car at night enhanced the feel of the creepy monastary libray and definitely made the devastating climax come to life as I listened. A great mystery, vivid characters, dry humor, and some nice historical touches round out the tale.

The only drawback of this title is that some of the Italian character names deserve re-reading (it is a whodunit, after all). I found myself skipping backwards every so often to review what I'd heard. For the most part this is impractical. Other than that, an excellent listen!

I highly recommend this title: it has lead me to check out other titles by the author and I will probably listen to it again every other year or so - which for me is a sure sign of a good book.

Interesting but slow

Took me a long time to finish this one because I started it one time and couldn't get interested so stopped and took me a few months to come back around to it. but... it was better than I thought the first time. It's set in a monastery a few hundred years in the past. Sort of like Sherlock Holmes as a monk solving crimes. It's very subtle and sometimes slow but well written and very well read.

Good enough to make me wish it were unabridged

This book -- what I heard of it -- was both an excellent mystery novel and, at a deeper level, a fascinating exploration of the way that piety can beget sin and a love of the truth can beget anti-intellectualism. The narrator did an excellent job, particularly with the German and Italian accents (though the British one could have used some help, I thought). I can't address how much is lost in the abridgement, but I do wish an unabridged version had been available -- especially now that I've heard this version. I have the book on my shelf and based on its length it seems that a great deal must be missing. On the other hand, that book has been on my shelf, unread, for some time, and I suppose the abridged version must be pretty good on its own merits if it left me wanting more.

Abridged? Really???

Would you try another book from Umberto Eco and/or Theodore Bikel?

Yes and Yes! This is one of my favorite books, and Theodore Bikel does a marvelous job bringing Adso to life. His accent and delivery are enthralling!

The only problem is that this version is abridged.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I love this book! The story is gripping

Have you listened to any of Theodore Bikel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first, but I loved his performance and will look for more!

Did The Name of the Rose inspire you to do anything?

Since this book is Eco's fictional take on his philosophies on semiotics, I was inspired to read more about semiotics.

Any additional comments?

Only problem with this book is that it's abridged! Which is terrible. Several of my favorite passages were missing!

Brilliantly written and Superbly performed!!!

I absolutely love Umberto Eco's writing, but Bikel adds so much to the book. The choir that is used at the begining and during transitions also takes you right there. I have listened to this book so many times. It is very relaxing, yet captivating, as well as completely entertaining. If you like Sherlock Holmes and enjoy books written with beautiful description/dialouge, then this is the mystery for you. Man, I love the begining and the many minutes of action in that maze of a library... just cozy, captivating goodness.

Brilliant Eco

I first read The Name of the Rose 12 years ago, and with each consecutive read, I learn more. Eco weaves many lenses and genres into this work- mystery, philosophy, history, drama, morality tale, romance just begin the list. The characters are singular, endowed with personalities all their own and skillfully brought to life by the rich resonance of Theodore Bikel. This audio is master meets master, and on this read, whether encouraged by the reading or because I am still mourning Eco's departure from the planet, I purchased the post script to help me through unknown allusions. The book is a living, breathing text, and keeps Eco alive, burning bright.

Brilliant authorship!

Where does The Name of the Rose rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best as far as quality and storyline

What did you like best about this story?

The language and complexity of thought.

Which character – as performed by Theodore Bikel – was your favorite?

William by far

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No- but it did make me think... A LOT!

Any additional comments?

This isn't necessarily the book to listen to if you are looking for the most thrilling book that you've ever read, but it has a brilliant story-line and some wonderful themes. The reader has the PERFECT voice, in my opinion, for this work.