Naming the Rose: Eco, Medieval Signs, and Modern Theory

by Theresa Coletti

"A textile of other texts, a 'whodunit' of quotations, a book built of books." So Umberto Eco has described his phenomenally successful novel The Name of the Rose, Theresa Coletti, a medievalist with a special interest in modern critical theory, asserts that Eco, by means of a concrete rendering of medieval social and intellectual life, has made a significant contemporary statement about language, meaning responsible intellectual activity, and the nature of critical discourse. Naming the Rose explores the implications of the unusual status of Eco's novel- at once a highly sophisticated novel of ideas and a best-selling work of detective fiction- perceiving in its problematic reception and hybrid nature reflection of the cultural and theoretical issues with which Eco is concerned.

232 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1988

Reviews

[Jonfaith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Naming the Rose proved to be an antidote, a contrary force against a prevailing wave. Treading along in a medieval current for a while, my mother recently gave me a Ken Follett novel and assured me I would love it. Instead I chose this route and enjoyed the inquiry of William and Adso all over again. Coletti explores medieval semiotics, which by and large rested on the pillars of Aristotle and Augustine of Hippo. She factors in the relative tension in viewpoints between the Franciscans and the Benedictine orders and finally broaches the dynamics of jurisdiction at play in the 14th Century. This is a fascinating study.

The sections on contemporary theory (well, circa 1988) appear forced, overlarded. Eco certainly chose a playful path akin to Derrida, but 20 references to the Of Grammatology don't cement that relationship. Despite the wrangling, Coletti conveys the intellectual joy of the novel. This is a wonderful homage to a masterwork, though its academic trappings will keep most people at arm's length.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acquired 1997
The Word, Montreal, Quebec