The Name of the Rose

Posted on 2008/01/13 18:48:23 (January 2008).

So last night I ordered a book on the internet. I'm sure you all have heard of it, as it is one of Umberto Eco's most renowned written work which was successfully adapted for the cinema, i.e. The Name of the Rose. I loved the movie and I have an Italian copy of the novel. My Italian being too rusty, I couldn't pluck up the courage to open it and therefore resolved to opt for an English copy. Can't wait to get it.
I like it because it's kind of an escape from reality. An escape to a world which wasn't better, far from it, but... but what ? Why do I like it ? I think it's the concept. A tower which contains the knowledge of the world, and a world which remains savage, that is pure, not yet bearing the ugly mark (scar) of mankind. In those days, men lived not in harmony with Nature, but according to her principles. Today, the world is a nonsense as it works against her (best translation for contre nature). We are destroying ourselves because our technology enables us to stop complying with Nature. We live a full-scale (grandeur nature in French) tragedy.
Let me raise my glass to it !

The musket balls here above are some other acquisition of mine on Ebay. Dating from the Civil War (from a known battlefield in Yorkshire - 1644), they are a piece of history in themselves. I'll put them in a small glass vase by the chimney. Will look good.

It was the middle ages after all, things have changed. On the other side with knowledge being so easy to obtain places such as the convent in the name of the rose are loosing their "mystery and coolness" factor... A shame...

Posted by Lox at 2008/01/13 19:12:58.

Yes, I can well see the attraction. The nearest I come to this type is Brother Cadfael and Sister Frevisse mysteries.

The Name of the Rose was set in Italy, whereas Cadfael in Shrewsbury, Frevisse in Oxfordshire. I know they are not quite the same, but still...

As for your balls... Would that be Marston Moor??

Posted by Nigel at 2008/01/13 22:13:00.

I luuuuuuuve Brother Cadfael's investigations.
As for Marston Moor, I simply don't know. The seller didn't specify.

Posted by Sheri at 2008/01/20 18:13:49.

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