SOCIAL SCIENCES

Death in Florence: The Medici, Savonorola, and the Battle for the Soul of a Renaissance City

by Paul Strathern
Pegasus. Aug. 2015. 456p. illus. maps. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781605988269. $29.95; ebk. ISBN 9781605988276. HIST
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OrangeReviewStarFans of television shows such as The Borgias and The Tudors, or even Game of Thrones, will find no end of entertainment in this in-depth chronicle of the real-life events of the Medici family in Renaissance Florence. No fictional embellishment is needed for the political intrigue described in Strathern's (The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance) latest work. The author paints a vivid picture of the struggle of the Medicis to maintain control over Florence as a passionate bishop fought against them, purporting to restore a true republic. With reproductions of Renaissance artwork and architecture as well as passages from contemporary historians, critics, and notable figures, Strathern's history envelopes the reader in the world of medieval Italy, with its vitality and violence, intellect and turmoil.
VERDICT Lovers of medieval history will be pulled into this informative and gripping account; academics will find it a credible source of historical knowledge. Strathern's approachable, objective style turns a litany of information into a spellbinding saga worthy of prime time. A thrilling and informative chronicle of one of the Renaissance's most notorious dynasties.
Reviewed by Kathleen Dupre , Jun 01, 2015
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