It's a murder mystery set in a 14th century Italian monastery. It's Eco's thesis on symbols and faith. It drags at times, but the whole picture is such a well constructed story that gives you a great basis to appreciate Eco's later works (which are sometimes a response to this book's success).

@cowboy@bookwyrm.social did you read "Foucaults pendulum" yet?

@maxheadroom@books.mxhdr.net I actually read Foucault's Pendulum first! Reading this helped contextualize some of Eco's themes in Pendulum, so I want to give it a re-read soon.