Renaissance Lives: Portraits Of An Age

by Theodore K. Rabb

With Renaissance Lives , Theodore K. Rabb revives a tradition of writing that was often practiced by the historians of that astounding to tell the story of an age by examining the lives of those who lived it. Rabb's subjects are all people who felt change gather speed around from Titian and Galileo to Catherine de' Medici and John Milton. In their stories we see, above all, the powers of ideas to liberate, to enthrall, to provoke, and to resolve conflict. Renaissance Lives shows us the struggle — with its grave disappointments but also its extraordinary achievements that accompanied the creation of the world we recognize as our own.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Renaissance, Art, Biography Memoir, Historical

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 1993

About the author

A specialist in early modern European history, Theodore K. Rabb was Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Princeton University.

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book can be criticized certainly--based on a tv show, etc. But I thought it was excellent for what it was. Rabb has an interesting selection of people most famous and some not (a Jewish woman merchant, an English vicar). He is naturally limited by the sources. He is able to write the stories of the less famous of his "lives" because they very unusually wrote autobiographies.

[Reece Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written biographies that highlight the humanity of history. Rabb's empathy forces you to realize that these figures were actual people living human lives.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this twice now. The first time to feed my love of the period and just recently to refresh myself for a chance to share with my womens' circle. It's a great little book!

[Amanda Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of some literary and artistic figures of this era, featuring painters, writers and religious figures.

[Tojuan Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good introduction into Renaissance history and good short bios of about 11 to 19 pages in terms of length. A fine history of the renaissance to read.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biographical view of famous and significant players in the Renaissance era is intrguing and well written.

[David R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book accompanied a PBS series and is concerned with fifteen characters Rabb saw as representative of the Renaissance. While the profiles are fascinating, one objects to the broad timeframe (300 years) and the strange selections. Walter Ralegh? Thomas Platter? I would have preferred a tighter focus.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter is a mini biography. Not all the lives are compelling reading. Good as resource for a history paper.

[Kate]

Tulsa, OK