The Measure of Man - by Lawrence Rothfield (Hardcover)
Similar Products
Products of same category from the store
All
Product info
<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>This book brings to vivid life the most concentrated surge of creativity in the history of civilization. Launching the Renaissance, the small city of Florence spawned a vibrant cultural and political life that offered unique opportunities for audacious risk taking and reversals to a panoply of memorable individuals.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br>It was one of the most concentrated surges of creativity in the history of civilization. Between 1390 and 1537, Florence poured forth an astonishing stream of magnificent artworks. But Florentines did more during this brief period than create masterpieces. As citizens of a fractious republic threatened from below, without, and within, they also were driven to reimagine the political and ethical basis of their world, exploring the meaning and possibilities of liberty, virtue, and beauty. This vibrant era is brought to life in rich detail by noted historian Lawrence Rothfield in The Measure of Man. His highly readable account introduces readers to a city teeming with memorable individuals and audacious risk-takers, capable of producing works of the most serene beauty and acts of the most shocking violence. Rothfield's cast of characters includes book hunters and book burners, devout Christians and assassins, humble pharmacists and arrogant oligarchs, all caught up in a dramatic struggle--a tragic arc running from the cultural heights of republican idealism in the early fifteenth century, through the aesthetic flowerings and civic vicissitudes of the age of the Medici and Savonarola, to the brooding meditations of Machiavelli and Michelangelo over the fate of the dying republic.<p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>A warm and welcoming introduction to Florence and its history, perfect for students and for travelers who want to understand the stories hidden in the city's layers and architecture, all written with true erudition and love.--Ada Palmer, author of Reading Lucretius in the Renaissance and the award-winning Terra Ignota series<br><br>This is just the book I wanted but couldn't find when I first became interested in Renaissance Florence. It's a delightful read, full of fascinating color and detail.--Jo Walton, award-winning author of Among Others, The Just City, and Lent<br><br>Want to feel the majesty and drama that made Florence the glory of Renaissance Italy? Rothfield's propulsive, witty, erudite history of the city-state is a must. Here's a guide to the genius, passions, politics, and noble and base motives of its creators, its rulers, and those who sought to favor them and usurp them. Rothfield helps us feel how the outsized impact of this remarkable city grew and ultimately faded, and why its power dimmed but its splendor endures. Readers may want to draw contemporary parallels to Renaissance Florence's bravura cultural ambitions and political machinations--go right ahead--but this book's real strength is making a magnificent place magnificently alive.--Ted C. Fishman, bestselling author of China, Inc. and Shock of Gray<br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br>Lawrence Rothfield has written or edited books on literary realism, the Brooklyn Museum of Art "Sensation" show controversy, music scenes in Chicago, and the looting of the Iraq National Museum. Currently he is working on a documentary about the life and art of outsider artist Ralph Blakelock, America's van Gogh. He teaches comparative literature at the University of Chicago.
Price History
Cheapest price in the interval: 22.99 on October 28, 2021
Most expensive price in the interval: 22.99 on December 20, 2021
Price Archive shows prices from various stores, lets you see history and find the cheapest. There is no actual sale on the website. For all support, inquiry and suggestion messagescommunication@pricearchive.us