Umberto Eco’s American publisher initially had doubts about the commercial potential of The Name of the Rose. In chapter 7, The Interview, from the Class 12 English textbook, it is mentioned that the publisher believed the novel’s complex themes and historical context might not resonate with the average American reader. They were concerned that the book’s intellectual depth and its setting in a medieval monastery would limit its appeal, expecting it to sell modestly at best. However, contrary to these expectations, the novel became a major success, captivating a wide audience and proving the publisher’s initial apprehensions wrong.