The Name of the Wind

The Name of the Wind is a 2007 fantasy novel by American author Patrick Rothfuss and the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicle.

The Name of the Wind is a 2007 fantasy novel by American author Patrick Rothfuss and the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicle. It follows Kvothe, who recounts his life from childhood through his training at a magical university and beyond. The novel is known for its frame narrative and first-person storytelling.

Plot

The novel follows Kvothe as he recounts his early life, his hardships as an orphan, and his admission to a school of magic. The narrative alternates between his present life at the Waystone Inn and his spoken history.

Setting

The story takes place in Temerant, especially the Four Corners of Civilization, a region divided into different nations and cultures. The world includes magic, folklore, and legendary figures such as the Chandrian and Taborlin the Great.

Publication

The Name of the Wind was first published on March 27, 2007 by DAW Books in the United States. It is widely presented as the opening volume of Rothfuss’s planned trilogy.

Narrative style

The novel uses a first-person autobiographical structure, with Kvothe narrating much of the story himself. This gives the book a layered structure that combines present-day scenes with retrospective storytelling.