“The monkish vows keep us far from that sink of vice that is the female body, but often they bring us close to other errors. Can I finally hide from myself the fact that even today my old age is still stirred by the noonday demon when my eyes, in choir, happen to linger on the beardless face of a novice, pure and fresh as a maiden's?”
This novel delves into the life of a young monk who becomes entangled in the political intrigue of the Catholic Church during the 13th century. It examines the conflict between the purity of faith and the corrupting influence of power, offering a rich tapestry of historical detail and moral complexity. more
Italian essayist, scholar, and critic. Umberto Eco is renowned for his unique literary style and profound academic background. His works integrate history, philosophy, literature, and semiotics, with his most famous novel being 'The Name of the Rose'. more
“Man does not commit sin in unintentional deed, but he might be the only one that could justify it.”
“Life is like the drama on a stage. What was once declared as a sin, perhaps much worse nowadays.”
“Freedom from sin is more often than not a piece of good fortune rather than a virtue.”
“I am born to gretter thinges than to be thral to my body, or than for to make of my body a thral”
“There are a great many sins in the world, none of them original.”