Book Review: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Medieval monk Adso records an adventure he had as a young novice traveling with William of Baskerville, an older monk going to an isolated Italian monastery to participate in a theological dispute that will have far-reaching consequences. Some Franciscans want to reestablish the hard-core poverty originally practiced by Saint Francis but Pope John XXII opposes this. He is one of the Avignon Popes (during the period when the papacy moved from Rome to France) and has more than a bit of corruption. Since William was formerly an inquisitor, he has both the intelligence and the wiles to discern difficult situations. The situation at the monastery quickly becomes much more difficult. When William arrives, a monk is discovered dead, possibly by suicide. He might have been killed, since the circumstances don't add up, so the abbot asks William to investigate. Another more gruesomely killed body shows up the next day, making the situation very perilous for the dispute (and the other monks).

The novel focuses slightly more on the murder investigation than the debate. Many clues point to a solution in the monastery's library which is large and labyrinthine. It's also off-limits to nearly everyone--only the librarian, his assistant, and the abbot are allowed in the library. The other monks who copy books have to request the tomes from the librarian. The monastery is famous for its book collection and has attracted monks from all over Europe. The layout and details of the monastery are presented in a lot of detail by author Eco, often in excessive detail. The factions around the debate get a lot attention too, something only partially related to the murder investigation. While these parts of the book parallel the murder investigation's labyrinthine search for the truth, they also feel padded out with the author's own interests. Eco adds a lot of Latin and a sprinkling of other languages, often without translations, making it more challenging to follow conversations. The languages certainly make it more atmospheric but also more difficult to read.

While I am glad that I read this, I did think it needed some editing to make some parts shorter (e.g., how many different real and fantasy animals were carved on the church's entrance?) and would have benefits with some footnotes for people who don't have a reading knowledge of Latin, Italian, French, and German. I don't think I will read it a second time.

Mildly recommended.

Movie Review: Knives Out (2019)

Knives Out (2019) written and directed by Rian Johnson

Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is the patriarch of a good-sized family. He's also a popular mystery author who publishes two books a year, generating the wealth that supports his offspring. Thrombey is found dead the day after his 85th birthday. At first glance, the situation looks like suicide. But all of his descendants have reasons to kill him, mostly because he is cutting each and every one of them off from the family fortune in one way or another. The only one who feels guilty is his nurse/helper, Marta (Ana de Armas) even though she left the house before Harlan died. She has one big disability for a murder suspect--she throws up whenever she tells a lie.

If that isn't mysterious enough, famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) has been hired by an anonymous person to investigate the suicide. He cooperates with the police, though his laid back style makes the family members (and even viewers) wonder how interested he really is. Blanc asks a lot of penetrating questions and recruits Marta, who seems to have an air-tight alibi, as his assistant. The investigation proceeds in a clever and fun way.

The movie clearly borrows and owes a lot to Agatha Christie. Blanc has a name like Hercule Poirot though he has an accent like TV's Matlock (Andy Griffith, who does not appear in this movie). The murder of a family patriarch happens more than once in Christie's work and the old family manor house is a classic location, even beyond Christie. The investigation proceeds in a methodical and fun manner. Some clues are misinterpreted to both comic and dramatic effect. The movie also has a certain old-fashioned moral sensibility that is refreshing to see. As a homage to Christie's mysteries, this movie delivers the goods. Which means, of course, that it's a good mystery.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Alan Grant is a Scotland Yard Inspector who is hospitalized with a broken leg. Various friends and acquaintances come to see him but he is rather bored--until one friend brings some portraits including one of Richard III, famous for his infamy. Grant doesn't immediately recognize Richard's contemporary portrait. Grant thinks that this person is more likely to be a judge than to be a criminal. His curiosity gets the better of him and he begins a historical investigation of the case for Richard killing his nephews in the Tower and his other alleged atrocities. He is aided by a young American researcher who gathers plenty of evidence from the past to clear up the mystery of the boys and why Richard has been vilified in history and popular culture.

Having recently read a more in-depth telling of George Washington's and Benedict Arnold's experiences during the American Revolution, this book is not so surprising to me in its anti-populist attitude toward received ideas about historical events. Grant's investigation leads him to see Richard as a fine administrator, a strong soldier, and a compassionate governor. If anything, he was too compassionate and forgiving of his enemies, who made him and his family into villains after his death. Grant and his helper uncover the many inconsistencies and deceptions that have gained traction in popular understanding. Closer scrutiny shows an entirely different picture. The truth is out there and needs a little digging (sometimes a lot of digging) to uncover.

This book is a work of fiction. But, having recently read an even-handed account of Richard's life, I can attest to the many details described in this book, such as St. Thomas More's propagandistic biography of Richard or the fact that if Richard really wanted to secure his throne he would have had to kill a lot of other family members who were in line after the nephews. And there's no way he was a hunchback with a withered arm AND fought many battles valiantly and victoriously. So this book is not a whitewashing of Richard.

The investigation format of the narrative makes the history much more interesting than a dry historical analysis would be. The writing is sharp and witty in the best style of the 1940s and 1950s British detective novels. The book is both fun and informative and well worth reading. Highly recommended!

The book is also the topic of discussion on Episode 156 of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast. Check it out!