How did Eco view the commercial success of The Name of the Rose in the U.S.?

Umberto Eco viewed the commercial success of The Name of the Rose in the U.S. with a sense of ambivalence. In chapter 7, The Interview, from the Class 12 English textbook, he reflects on how the popularity of the novel, while gratifying, led him to worry about its reception as a mere commercial product rather than a serious literary work. Eco expressed concern that readers might not fully engage with the complex themes and philosophical underpinnings of the story, instead treating it as a typical bestseller. This tension between commercial success and artistic integrity highlights Eco’s commitment to literature that provokes thought and challenges readers beyond mere entertainment.