Question

Why were journalists and publishers puzzled by the success of ‘The Name of the Rose’ ? (The Interview)

(Answer in 40-50 words)

Hint:

Contrast the belief that readers like easy books with the fact that this difficult, intellectual novel still became a bestseller.

Answer 1

Step 1: Locate the point in the lesson:
In 'The Interview', Umberto Eco's novel 'The Name of the Rose' is discussed as a surprising bestseller. The question asks why this success puzzled the press and publishers.

Step 2: Note the marking-scheme points:
They believed readers disliked difficult reading, yet the novel was highly intellectual, full of metaphysics, theology and medieval history.

Final Answer:
Journalists and publishers were puzzled because they believed that people liked easy, light reading and disliked difficult books. Yet ‘The Name of the Rose’ was a serious, intellectual novel, full of metaphysics, theology and medieval history, and still became a huge success among readers.