Upon the appearance of the novel "The Name of the Rose" in 1980 in Milan, translation worked to convey it to almost all European and American languages. Eco was already known as one of the most prominent semiotics scholars, and in a short time, the book made him a literary and artistic figure known to all. The success and widespread appeal of the book were further enhanced by the release of the film inspired by the story of Adsoda Malik, the novel's protagonist, which achieved some success, though far less than the book itself.
This translation aims to provide the Arab reader with one of the important texts of this second half of the century, a text that is essential for them to know. Especially since the novel, while seemingly telling events that do not directly concern the Arab-Islamic world, acknowledges through its hero, Gulielmo da Baskerville, the knowledge and wisdom of Arabs and their contribution to the dissemination of sciences and knowledge in Europe during the Middle Ages – that knowledge which laid the foundations for the subsequent European awakening. This book, therefore, concerns us, as discerning readers eager for new literary and artistic works that deserve to be translated and introduced. It also concerns us as Arabs and Muslims because, through its global spread, it propagates an image of past Islamic civilization characterized by the advancement of sciences and knowledge and a spirit of tolerance and openness. "The Name of the Rose" is, moreover, truly an "open work," and every reader, regardless of their affiliation, can find in it a reflection of themselves and a reflection of their world. During the reading, one will truly feel that they are the subject of the matter, "de te fabula narratur," as Umberto Eco says. That is to say, the tale (or novel) in reality only recounts what is happening around us, while the historical facts, crimes, and labyrinth mentioned in the novel are merely symbols whose secrets must be deciphered and meanings understood. Perhaps this is the reason for the success of this novel wherever it has been translated and published.