Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Baudolino
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
It is April 1204, and Constantinople, the splendid capital of the Byzantine Empire, is being sacked and burned by the knights of the Fourth Crusade. Amid the carnage and confusion, one Baudolino saves a historian and high court official from certain death at the hands of the crusading warriors and proceeds to tell his own fantastical story. Born a simple peasant in northern Italy, Baudolino has two major gifts-a talent for learning languages and a skill in telling lies. When still a boy he meets a foreign commander in the woods, charming him with his quick wit and lively mind. The commander-who proves to be Emperor Frederick Barbarossa-adopts Baudolino and sends him to the university in Paris, where he makes a number of fearless, adventurous friends. Spurred on by myths and their own reveries, this merry band sets out in search of Prester John, a legendary priest-king said to rule over a vast kingdom in the East-a phantasmagorical land of strange creatures with eyes on their shoulders and mouths on their stomachs, of eunuchs, unicorns, and lovely maidens. With dazzling digressions, outrageous tricks, extraordinary feeling, and vicarious reflections on our postmodern age, this is Eco the storyteller at his brilliant best.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
kidamy
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
post image

I'm my own worst enemy.

6 likes1 stack add
blurb
whatandireads
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
post image

I'm seriously going to make it through this time.

1 like1 stack add
review
shortsarahrose
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
post image
Pickpick

I think you need an appreciation of both postmodernism and Medieval tales (a passing familiarity with Prester John will help) to enjoy this, and it can be a bit slow to get through. Patience, friends! Because the last few chapters really have an impact.

quote
shortsarahrose
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
post image

When you stubbornly won't quit: "Our head is harder than our cock."

Tara I struggle with Eco! Interested to see what you think of this one 8y
1 comment
blurb
shortsarahrose
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
post image

It's hard to think of a better way to spend a Saturday than with a veggie crepe, iced coffee, sunshine, and a stack of books.

blurb
Book_Gnome
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
post image

What a great cover. My husband will be wel pleased with this bookshop find today!

3 likes1 stack add
review
leighsbookishlife
Baudolino | Umberto Eco
post image
Pickpick

Definitely not a light read, but very entertaining.

2 likes2 stack adds