The Name of the Rose: A Graphic Novel

A titan of comics illustrates this masterful graphic novel adaptation of Umberto Eco's internationally bestselling historical mystery.

Italy, 1327. While Brother William of Baskerville is investigating accusations of heresy at a wealthy abbey, his inquiries are disrupted by a series of bizarre deaths. Falling back on his practiced detective skills to find the killer, he relies on the logic of Aristotle, the theology of Aquinas, the empirical insights of Roger Bacon—all sharpened to a glistening edge by wry humor and a ferocious curiosity. With the aid of his young apprentice, William scours the abbey, from its stables to the labyrinthine library, piecing together evidence, and deciphering cryptic symbols and coded manuscripts to uncover the truth about this place where "the most interesting things happen at night."

The first official graphic novel adaptation of Umberto Eco's classic work is illustrated by acclaimed comics artist Milo Manara, whose use of lush watercolors and pen drawings have earned him industry recognition, including induction into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame and an Eisner award.

First published in 1980, The Name of the Rose became an international sensation, beguiling readers around the world with its mix of history, humor, and intellectual heft. Eco's debut won the Premio Strega and the Prix Médicis Étranger awards before going on to become a beloved novel that “explodes with pyrotechnic inventions, literally as well as figuratively. Hold on till the end” (The New York Times).

Translated from the Italian by Richard Dixon