Who wrote the fantasy novel The Name of the Wind?

Patrick Rothfuss wrote the fantasy novel The Name of the Wind. It was published in 2007 as the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicle, a series built around the life story of the legendary musician and arcanist Kvothe.

The novel uses a frame narrative: the adult Kvothe runs an inn under the name Kote, while the chronicler Devan Lochees records Kvothe’s account over several days. Much of the story follows Kvothe’s childhood, his years at the University, and his pursuit of knowledge about the mysterious Chandrian.

The book is known for its lyrical prose, embedded songs, and emphasis on storytelling itself. The Wise Man’s Fear, published in 2011, is the second novel. The third planned volume has not been published, so the series remains unfinished. That fact distinguishes The Kingkiller Chronicle from completed fantasy series such as Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.