Eco Takes Us Back To The Middle Ages In "Baudolino," A Captivating Story About History, Myths, And Imagination. The Story Is Set In April 1204, During The Fourth Crusade, When Constantinople, The Grand City Of The Byzantine Empire, Is Under Attack. In The Chaos, A Man Named Baudolino Saves A Historian And An Important Court Official From The Crusaders. He Then Begins To Share His Own Extraordinary Tale.

Baudolino, Originally A Simple Peasant From Northern Italy, Has Two Remarkable Talents: He Can Easily Learn Different Languages, And He's Really Good At Making Up Stories. When He Was A Boy, He Met A Foreign Commander In The Woods And Impressed Him With His Cleverness. This Commander, Who Turns Out To Be Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Adopts Baudolino And Sends Him To A University In Paris. There, He Makes Adventurous Friends And, Inspired By Myths And Their Dreams, They Embark On A Quest To Find Prester John. Prester John Was Believed To Be A Priest-king Ruling A Magical Kingdom In The East, A Place Filled With Strange Creatures And Wonders.

Just Like Eco's Other Works, "Baudolino" Is A Rich Story With Lots Of Interesting Detours, Clever Tricks, Emotional Moments, And Reflections On Our Modern World. It's A Fantastic Tale Written By The Same Author Who Gave Us "The Name Of The Rose."