Which novel by Umberto Eco centers on murders at a medieval Italian abbey?

The Name of the Rose is Umberto Eco’s novel about murders at a medieval Italian abbey.

Published in Italian in 1980, the novel follows William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar, and his young companion Adso of Melk as they investigate a series of deaths in a remote monastery. The story combines historical fiction, theological debate, and detective mystery.

The abbey’s labyrinthine library is central to the plot. Books, censorship, interpretation, and forbidden knowledge all become part of the investigation, giving the mystery an unusually intellectual dimension. Eco also drew on medieval conflicts involving religious authority and the papacy.

The title refers to the elusive nature of meaning and identity rather than simply naming a character or location. A successful 1986 film adaptation starred Sean Connery as William and Christian Slater as Adso, though the novel contains considerably more historical and philosophical material.