A dazzling history of the modest family which rose to become one of the most powerful in Europe, The Medici is a remarkably modern story of power, money and ambition. Against the background of an age which saw the rebirth of ancient and classical learning - of humanism which penetrated and explored the arts and sciences and the 'dark' knowledge of alchemy, astrology, and numerology - Paul Strathern explores the intensely dramatic rise and fall of the Medici family in Florence, as well as the Italian Renaissance which they did so much to sponsor and encourage. Interwoven into the narrative are the lives of many of the great Renaissance artists with whom the Medici had dealings, including Leonardo, Michelangelo and Donatello, as well as scientists like Galileo and Pico della Mirandola, both of whom clashed with the religious authorities. In this enthralling study, Paul Strathern also follows the fortunes of those members of the Medici family who achieved success away from Florence, including the two Medici popes and Catherine de' Médicis who became Queen of France and played a major role in that country through three turbulent reigns. Vivid and accessible, the book ends with the gloriously decadent decline of the Medici family in Florence as they strove to be recognised as European Princes. (20031208)
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
An excellent history... an entertaining, if ultimately dispiriting tale of the rise and fall of an ambitious banking family. (Ian Thomson Sunday Times )
Strathern has done his research thoroughly, and tells a good story well. (Sunday Telegraph )
Strathern has done his research thoroughly, and tells a good story well. (Sunday Telegraph )
Book Description
A vivid and dramatic account of one of the most influential families in Italian history (20040315)
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
It was exceedingly well written and very enjoyable. The only criticism I would have was that I expected some more exploration of the wider family.
I also do have to say that as I was not particularly well acquainted with the Medici and that particular period in detail, it was at a very good level for me. If you are better acquainted with that era, the book may possibly be a bit simple for you.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Hunt
Format:Paperback
I bought the hardback version of this book aftert seeing the TV series as I wanted to find out more.
The book is one of the best I've read: easy to read, packed full of revealing facts and stories about the peoples and the times. Amazing what they all got up to.
It's also easy to read so if, like me, you're not an intellectual type, you'll have no trouble getting through the 400+ pages. Left me wanting to find out more.
Great stuff.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is a really good piece of popular history. As another review has said, some readers may find it insufficiently academic - in that respect it contrasts with April Blood by Lauro Martines, a book about one aspect of Medici history that is academically superb but, in my view, poorly written for non-academics. However, for the general reader this book is spot on.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 6 reviews
3.7 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Medici, Godfathers of the Renassaince, by Paul Strathern
The Medici, Godfathers of the Renaissance by Paul Strathern, is a remarkably well researched and interestingly written book on the Dynasty of the Medici, covering the rise and fall... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lorraine Juhl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific book!
Terrific book! Very easy to read and provided a fascinating and succinct description of what the 'renaissance' was all about!
Published 1 month ago by Rita Fox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
Very much enjoying this book. It is between a historical account and a soap opera. So much drama! I'm learning about Renaisance Italy and very much enjoying it.
Published 2 months ago by Miss Jacqueline Slade
5.0 out of 5 stars
Academic and readable
This is an engrossing account of one of the most influential families in the history of Italy without whose influence some of the greatest names in artiistic history might have... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Diane Clifford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Medici Godfathers of the Renaissance
Great book a really good read it put historical facts into a novel that was a real page turner. I have no hesitation in giving the highest praise for this book.
Published 3 months ago by Debra Maye
3.0 out of 5 stars
Heavy Going
It took me ages to read as it was quite factual. I would have preferred a book that was in more of a story format but it told me what I needed to know.
Published 3 months ago by Prawncracker
5.0 out of 5 stars
History made accessible
This is an excellent account of the Medici family's rise and fall in Renaissance era Italy. Each member of the dynasty is given the correct amount of time and the author skilfully... Read more
Published 4 months ago by FarehamBiz
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best so far
Over the past few months I've ordered 21 books through Amazon on the Italian Renaissance. I know of nothing more passionate than the lives of the Borgia and the Sforza; more... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Boyd Hone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
I bought this book after taking a copy out of the library. I wanted my own copy for college as we are studying The Renaissance and the Medici were the ruling family of Florence at... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Peachy
4.0 out of 5 stars
A history you can bank on
WHILST on the face of it, this is a biography of one of the world's most significant historical families, Strathern's account of 400 years of the Medici family ends up in turn... Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. Dearden
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
