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Review
'a lucid and highly readable history displaying an enjoyable flair for the salacious.' --Sunday Telegraph
Review
'Strathern is the ideal guide to this vibrant, intellectually fertile but brutal period in history. The book is a triumph'
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A fascinating approach, explaining an incredibly complex period, that immerses the reader in an extraordinary age
13 April 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Leonardo, Machiavelli, Borgia: these 3 men were, each in their own way, extraordinary. Genius is not too strong a word (though some might balk at the idea of Cesare Borgia being included - especially after what we learn in this book of him and his father Pope Alexander VI). What Strathern calls a 'fateful collusion' was a story largely untold (as far as I can tell) before this book - and is therefore a fascinating approach. The period in view lasted only a matter of 4 or 5 years - and its complexities require much explanation and background study - but it works successfully as a piece of gripping history.
This is no straightforward biography of the 3 men - it is a study of a unique cultural moment. And that is its greatest asset, but also its constant challenge. Even though we're dealing with only a few years, it is sometimes hard to keep track of all that was going on (not least because of the sheer complexity of Italian Renaissance politics - many city states, dukedoms, not to mention the intricacies of the inner-workings of the Papacy). Then, despite the book's title, the number of times the 3 men intersected was not actually that great - their meetings (never with all 3 in one room, as far as we know) are largely described from (perfectly reasonable) conjecture - although we have clear records of Machiavelli's encounters with Borgia from his own writing (e.g. regular diplomatic despatches back to Florence, and the impact of Borgia on his ground-breaking The Prince (Penguin Classics)). Yet there is no doubt that all 3 knew each other (probably pretty well) - and so the book does have a sound basis. I found at times the need to repeat, backtrack or review moments quite confusing (because the book is structured so that each of the 3 is repeatedly given focus in turn) - and was only saved by the essential chronology at the start. It would have been even better to have a summary of that timeline at the start of each chapter, just to keep the reader on track.
Despite these minor gripes, I couldn't put the book down. I was enthralled from the start - and found myself hankering for more at the end. For any interested in the background to the European Reformation, this is essential reading, since the charges of corruption against the Papacy (most notably from Luther just a few years later) are given clear grounds. The escapades and ambitions of the Spanish Borgia family knew no bounds - the orgies and machinations within the walls of the Vatican were simply shameless. Strathern pulls no punches in what are at times rather lurid depictions of the goings on. More significantly, because every great work of art or writing has a context or provocation (rather than being some ethereal timeless revelation), the wonders of Leonardo's inventions, painting and imagination now make so much more sense, as does Machiavelli's political philosophy, because of this book. Then, to top it all, the account manages to convey moments of great poignancy - for example in the analysis of what probably turned Leonardo away from his work as a military engineer, and Machiavelli's enforced languishing in professional isolation on his farm once the Florentine political winds had changed.
This is a well written and deeply researched book, full of gems and insights - and any book that leaves you sad to be finishing has clearly succeeded in what it set out to do.
This is no straightforward biography of the 3 men - it is a study of a unique cultural moment. And that is its greatest asset, but also its constant challenge. Even though we're dealing with only a few years, it is sometimes hard to keep track of all that was going on (not least because of the sheer complexity of Italian Renaissance politics - many city states, dukedoms, not to mention the intricacies of the inner-workings of the Papacy). Then, despite the book's title, the number of times the 3 men intersected was not actually that great - their meetings (never with all 3 in one room, as far as we know) are largely described from (perfectly reasonable) conjecture - although we have clear records of Machiavelli's encounters with Borgia from his own writing (e.g. regular diplomatic despatches back to Florence, and the impact of Borgia on his ground-breaking The Prince (Penguin Classics)). Yet there is no doubt that all 3 knew each other (probably pretty well) - and so the book does have a sound basis. I found at times the need to repeat, backtrack or review moments quite confusing (because the book is structured so that each of the 3 is repeatedly given focus in turn) - and was only saved by the essential chronology at the start. It would have been even better to have a summary of that timeline at the start of each chapter, just to keep the reader on track.
Despite these minor gripes, I couldn't put the book down. I was enthralled from the start - and found myself hankering for more at the end. For any interested in the background to the European Reformation, this is essential reading, since the charges of corruption against the Papacy (most notably from Luther just a few years later) are given clear grounds. The escapades and ambitions of the Spanish Borgia family knew no bounds - the orgies and machinations within the walls of the Vatican were simply shameless. Strathern pulls no punches in what are at times rather lurid depictions of the goings on. More significantly, because every great work of art or writing has a context or provocation (rather than being some ethereal timeless revelation), the wonders of Leonardo's inventions, painting and imagination now make so much more sense, as does Machiavelli's political philosophy, because of this book. Then, to top it all, the account manages to convey moments of great poignancy - for example in the analysis of what probably turned Leonardo away from his work as a military engineer, and Machiavelli's enforced languishing in professional isolation on his farm once the Florentine political winds had changed.
This is a well written and deeply researched book, full of gems and insights - and any book that leaves you sad to be finishing has clearly succeeded in what it set out to do.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Five stars for a book that lives up to its title. The author clearly foresaw the need to go into some detail about each of the three subjects which is why, as you'll find, some chapters repeat aforementioned details. Strathern more or less pushes the story of each person along one at a time and, of course, refers to the others where necessary. The book is therefore very simple to follow as it covers the full lives of the three men. Furthermore, it doesn't limit itself to any introverted commentary on the three characters alone - lots of `padding' is included to further illustrate 14/1500s Italy: Michaelangelo, Savonarola, the Medici Family and others are touched upon. I felt I was getting a much better personal insight to each of the three - especially da Vinci, whose actual character is often overlooked and writers instead focus on his works. Illustrations pop up now and then, usually from Leonardo's notebooks, and serve the text well. A small section in the middle offers the reader a few portraits of the three men and other significant works on glossy paper. You may also notice that Strathern likes to say `vent his spleen' a lot...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This author is often accused of being rather starry-eyed with regard to people and events, but I believe that this is simply a misunderstanding of his impetuous need to make the reader empathize with the protagonists as much as he does. During the course of researching this book Strathern has clearly reached a point of great understanding and does a marvellous job of ensuring the reader connects with the characters. If a bit of "starry eyed-ness" is the price to pay for such a captivating read then so be it.
The beauty of this book is the willingness of the author to explore new areas around the immediate subject. Many books of this genre simply present a timeline of events. Others look to provide the reader with a greater picture, such as the study of contexts and motives. But here Strathern takes it one step further. He will explore WITH you not only the tangible truth, whether with regard to event or motive, but will, amongst other things, investigate the psychological state of the protagonist that would have prompted him to make such fateful decisions, or behave in such startling ways. You will find yourself following what can only be described as a barely-coherent tangent of the author who is clearly so engrossed in his subject that he's almost forgotten he's writing at all. However, as is so often the case when being party to such an expression, it's a joy to read. This may imply that the book is a chore. Luckily this is remedied. The nature of the structure of the book, i.e. the following of events from the points of view of three characters, means very often events are depicted on three separate occasions, and usually in three very different ways. This allows you to pick up any information that may have been lost on you when trying to decipher Strathern's tangents.
My only criticism is the shocking number of typos that has snuck in. These are only minor slips, such as inconsistencies in Italian names: "Vitellozzo" becomes "Vitollezzo" and then back again; "though" rather than "through"; and even "he was still unable to unable to assemble his notebooks..." It doesn't much hinder the flow of the reading, if indeed you notice it at all, but eventually one does begin to think "OH GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER".
The beauty of this book is the willingness of the author to explore new areas around the immediate subject. Many books of this genre simply present a timeline of events. Others look to provide the reader with a greater picture, such as the study of contexts and motives. But here Strathern takes it one step further. He will explore WITH you not only the tangible truth, whether with regard to event or motive, but will, amongst other things, investigate the psychological state of the protagonist that would have prompted him to make such fateful decisions, or behave in such startling ways. You will find yourself following what can only be described as a barely-coherent tangent of the author who is clearly so engrossed in his subject that he's almost forgotten he's writing at all. However, as is so often the case when being party to such an expression, it's a joy to read. This may imply that the book is a chore. Luckily this is remedied. The nature of the structure of the book, i.e. the following of events from the points of view of three characters, means very often events are depicted on three separate occasions, and usually in three very different ways. This allows you to pick up any information that may have been lost on you when trying to decipher Strathern's tangents.
My only criticism is the shocking number of typos that has snuck in. These are only minor slips, such as inconsistencies in Italian names: "Vitellozzo" becomes "Vitollezzo" and then back again; "though" rather than "through"; and even "he was still unable to unable to assemble his notebooks..." It doesn't much hinder the flow of the reading, if indeed you notice it at all, but eventually one does begin to think "OH GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER".
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