If in your life, you only read one book about the mythical kingdom of Prestor John, make it Catherynne Valente's "The Habitation of the Blessed" if after that you still have a yearning to search for that far-flung Christian kingdom (and also you enjoy long arguments regarding the existence of the vacuum), then read "Baudolino". ( )

I loved this story and the character Baudolino was a joy to know. The tale ranges far and wide in geography and history and ventures into fantasy too. A wonderful read with fascinating people and situations. ( )

Aventura picaresca, novela histórica, relato de un delito imposible, teatro de invenciones lingüísticas hilarantes, Umberto Eco traza una gigantesca crónica novelada de la Europa de los siglos XII y XIII

«Umberto Eco cambió nuestra mirada sobre los libros: imprescindibles, pequeños, frágiles, a veces criminales, casi siempre salvadores. Un maestro que nos enseñó a entrelazar la sabiduría y el juego con su estilo sagaz y lúdico, con su asombrosa inventiva y certera lucidez.»
Irene Vallejo

En una zona del bajo Piamonte, un pequeño campesino fantasioso y embustero llamado Baudolino conquista a Federico Barbarroja y se convierte en su hijo adoptivo. Casi milagrosamente, todo aquello que Baudolino imagina genera Historia. Entre otras cosas, crea la mítica carta del Preste Juan, que prometía a Occidente un reino fabuloso en el lejano Oriente, gobernado por un rey cristiano.

Empujado por la invención de Baudolino, Federico emprende una cruzada para restituir al Preste Juan la más preciosa reliquia de la cristiandad, el Santo Grial. Federico morirá durante el viaje, en circunstancias misteriosas, pero su ahijado continuará hacia aquel reino lejano, entre monstruos de los bestiarios del medioevo y vicisitudes llenas de magia y hechizo.

Reseña:
«Baudolinoes la novela más lúdica, rebosante de humor, fantasía y libertad absoluta escrita hasta el momento por Eco.»

Mercedes Monmany,ABC

By far Eco's weakest novel to date. ( )

In this light-hearted novel the eponymous Baudolino, a resourceful cross between Voltaire's Candide and Thomas Berger's "Little Big Man," is an energetic enough narrator who regales his tired hearer (one Niketas Choniates) with the story of Baudolino's agreeably misspent youth, his chance meeting with warlord emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and the remarkable events that follow when Frederick effectively adopts the clever stripling ( After forming bonds with several fellow students (including a moony would-be "Poet," a love-starved half-Moor, and a pragmatic rabbinical scholar), Baudolino sets out to write a history of his benefactor's exploits, assists in the defense of a defiant city built to withstand Frederick's impending sacking, and devises a plan to locate the legendary Holy "Grasal" (a.k. grail). The narrative continued in that vein and seldom disappointed this reader. ( )