Commentary/review

A study in looking beyond the surface.

I almost forgot how good this book was. Rereading Eco is always like meeting an old friend, although the “friend” is partly Eco, partly the world seen through his unique eyes. “The only truths that are useful are instruments to be thrown away”.

Seán Barrett is a brilliant narrator. I never noticed how humble he is in “just reading”, no matter how complex and multilingual the content. Salvatore is a voice acting masterpiece; the entire book feels integrated and coherent, almost cosy. The book is a real pleasure to read in the audio format. The ending is heartbreaking which I have not appreciated until this rendition. This is how audiobooks are made, listen and learn.

A somewhat misleading cover. The monastic complex described in “The Name of the Rose” was opulent.

Cover photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash