The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Set in a wealthy Italian monastery in the 14th century, the novel follows a Franciscan friar and his young apprentice as they investigate a series of mysterious deaths within the monastery. As they navigate the labyrinthine library and decipher cryptic manuscripts, they uncover a complex plot involving forbidden books, secret societies, and the Inquisition. The novel is a blend of historical fiction, mystery, and philosophical exploration, delving into themes of truth, knowledge, and the power of the written word.
The 53rd greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
Total Points: 3187
This book was first published in 1980
46 Lists
- score: 190 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 169 -- The Bigger Read List - 2003 (Weight: 160)
- score: 169 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 160)
- score: 155 -- Tozai Mystery Best 100 (2012 Revision) - 2012 (Weight: 130)
- score: 154 -- Zeit Literaturkanon - 2012 (Weight: 146)
- score: 148 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 139 -- The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time - 1990 (Weight: 120)
- score: 133 -- The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time - 1990 (Weight: 120)
- score: 130 -- Big Read (Bulgarian) - 2009 (Weight: 120)
- score: 116 -- 100 Books, 100 Companions - 2023 (Weight: 110)
- score: 115 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 100)
- score: 111 -- Big Read (Hungarian) - 2005 (Weight: 110)
- score: 105 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 105)
- score: 101 -- The 100 Novels That Have Most Enthralled "Le Monde" Since 1944 - 2019 (Weight: 96)
- score: 98 -- The 100 Best Crime Novels and Thrillers since 1945 - 2019 (Weight: 93)
- score: 97 -- List of the 100 best Italian books of the last 200 years - 2017 (Weight: 92)
- score: 91 -- The 100 Most Important Translations - 2018 (Weight: 80)
- score: 84 -- Books that Shaped the Century - 2020 (Weight: 80)
- score: 83 -- NY Times Editors Choice 1980-1989 - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 79)
- score: 80 -- 100 Books of Classical and Modern Foreign Literature - 2013 (Weight: 80)
- score: 75 -- The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time - 2023 (Weight: 71)
- score: 70 -- The Big Read - 2003 (Weight: 70)
- score: 68 -- Big Read (German) - 2004 (Weight: 60)
- score: 60 -- Our Users' Top 100 Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 60)
- score: 59 -- Kanon na koniec wieku (Canon at the end of the century) - 2002 (Weight: 50)
- score: 53 -- The 101 Favorite Novels of 'Le Monde' Readers - 2019 (Weight: 50)
- score: 50 -- 4chan’s Literature Board’s Aggregate Top 100 Books for the Decade 2014 - 2024 - 2024 (Weight: 50)
- score: 42 -- A Century of World Literature 1925 - 2025 - 2025 (Weight: 40)
- score: 42 -- Strega Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 40)
- score: 42 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 40)
- score: 39 -- 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 - 2014 (Weight: 36)
- score: 31 -- 50 Essential Reads by Contemporary Authors - 2004 (Weight: 30)
- score: 30 -- In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels - 2011 (Weight: 30)
- score: 24 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 20)
- score: 10 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Favorite Novels of Librarians - 1999 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Daniel S. Burt's Recommended Historical Novels - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 501 Must-Read Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- PEN Translation Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Novels that Changed The World - 2022 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Best Of The 1980s - 1989 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Best Thrillers according to Télérama - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Waterstones' Top 25 Books of the Last 25 Years (2007) - 2007 (Weight: 1)