Foucault's Pendulum

22 hrs. 16 min.

Romance & Prose

Language Russian

Author Umberto Eco

Narrator Evgeny Ternovsky

Description

“Foucault’s Pendulum” is the second novel by Italian writer and philosopher, professor of semiotics at the University of Bologna, Umberto Eco. It was first published in Italian in 1988.

The plot of the novel (like the eponymous pendulum) revolves around three friends—Belbo, Diotallevi, and Casabona—who work at the “factory of fame” (“factory of fame” or “vanity press” is a publishing house that prints books paid for by the authors, often by people who write without talent) in Milan. After reading many manuscripts devoted to occult conspiracy theories, they decide they can do better—and begin, for entertainment, to create their own theory. They call this satirical-intellectual game “The Plan.”
The more Belbo, Diotallevi, and Casabona developed their brainchild, the more, without noticing it, they plunged into the depths of their “Plan,” sometimes even forgetting that it was only a game. What’s more, when the supporters of other conspiracy theories learned about “The Plan,” they took it completely seriously. In the end, Belbo discovers that he is the target of a real secret society, which believes that he holds the solution to the mystery of the lost treasure of the Templars.
Many subplots of the work weave into the main theme of creating “The Plan.” For example, the reasons for Belbo’s obsession with “The Plan” come from his childhood spent in Italy during World War II, from his unrequited love for the fickle Lorenza Pellegrini, and from his desire to free himself from the constant feeling of his own inadequacy. Using the Plan of the Templar Order for world domination, the novel demonstrates the innate gullibility and tendency toward mystification that is inherent in all people.

Because a magazine version has been recorded, there will inevitably be cuts. Tracks are named according to chapter numbers, so the numbering order has gaps.