Baudolino
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Baudolino by Umberto Eco
Baudolino is a 2000 novel by Umberto Eco about a young man's adventures, named Baudolino, in the known Christian world of the 12th century.
In the year of 1204, Baudolino of Alessandria enters Constantinople, unaware of the Fourth Crusade that has thrown the city into chaos. In the confusion he meets Niketas Choniates and saves his life. Niketas is amazed with his language genius, speaking any language he ever heard, and on the question if he is not part of the crusade, Baudolino begins to recount his life story to Niketas.
His story begins in 1155, when Baudolino is sold to and adopted by the emperor Frederick I. At court and on the battlefield, he is educated in writing and Latin and learns a lot about the power struggles and battles of northern Italy at the time. He is sent to Paris to become a scholar.
In Paris, he gains friends, and learns about the mythical kingdom of Prester John. From this happening and on, Baudolino is dreaming of reaching this land. On a long journey, encompassing 25 years, Eco demonstrates the full width of his story-telling style. Baudolino meets eunuchs, unicorns and caricatures of men. Philosophical debates are mixed with comedy and epic adventure. The avid Umberto Eco reader will notice in this work references from previous novels of Eco.
Baudolino was translated into English in 2001 by William Weaver. The novel presented a number of particular difficulties in translation, not the least of which is that there are ten or so pages written in a made-up language that is a mixture of Latin, medieval Italian, and other languages.
Editions
- Harcourt (October 15, 2002; hardcover; ISBN 0151006903)
- Grasset (February 12, 2002; paperback, French; ISBN 2246615011)
- Recorded Books (October 2002; audio cassette; ISBN 1402528140)
- Distribooks (January 2003; Italian; ISBN 8845251950)
- Harvest Books (October 6, 2003; paperback; ISBN 0156029065)de:Baudolino