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The Florentine Renaissance
Florence in the fifteenth century was the undisputed centre of the Italian Renaissance. Its legacy is apparent today in every aspect of human endeavour. Out art and science, our learning and literature, our Christianity and out civic liberties, even our conception of what constitutes a gentleman, have all been shaped by Florentine thought and deed. In this brilliant and absorbing book Vincent Cronin brings vividly to life the people and myriad achievements of this astonishingly fruitful epoch in human history.
353 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
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About the author
Vincent Cronin
60 books40 followersVincent Archibald Patrick Cronin FRSL (24 May 1924 – 25 January 2011) was a British historical, cultural, and biographical writer, best known for his biographies of Louis XIV, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great, and Napoleon, as well as for his books on the Renaissance.
Cronin was born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, to Scottish doctor and novelist, A. J. Cronin, and May Gibson, but moved to London at the age of two. He was educated at Ampleforth College, Harvard University, the Sorbonne, and Trinity College, Oxford, from which he graduated with honours in 1947, earning a degree in Literae Humaniores. During the Second World War, he served as a lieutenant in the British Army.
In 1949, he married Chantal de Rolland, and they had five children. The Cronins were long-time residents of London, Marbella, and Dragey, in Avranches, Normandy, where they lived at the Manoir de Brion.
Cronin was a recipient of the Richard Hillary Award, the W.H. Heinemann Award (1955), and the Rockefeller Foundation Award (1958). He also contributed to the Revue des Deux Mondes, was the first General Editor of the Companion Guides series, and was on the Council of the Royal Society of Literature.
He died at his home in Marbella on 25 January 2011.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent...
Cronin was born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, to Scottish doctor and novelist, A. J. Cronin, and May Gibson, but moved to London at the age of two. He was educated at Ampleforth College, Harvard University, the Sorbonne, and Trinity College, Oxford, from which he graduated with honours in 1947, earning a degree in Literae Humaniores. During the Second World War, he served as a lieutenant in the British Army.
In 1949, he married Chantal de Rolland, and they had five children. The Cronins were long-time residents of London, Marbella, and Dragey, in Avranches, Normandy, where they lived at the Manoir de Brion.
Cronin was a recipient of the Richard Hillary Award, the W.H. Heinemann Award (1955), and the Rockefeller Foundation Award (1958). He also contributed to the Revue des Deux Mondes, was the first General Editor of the Companion Guides series, and was on the Council of the Royal Society of Literature.
He died at his home in Marbella on 25 January 2011.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 16, 2019
I can’t begin to imagine the amount of work and study that was put in this book.
Cronin describes Florence in the renaissance times as if he was there, reporting as a journalist. From the philosophy and scholars to anecdotes and gossips, there’s no rock left unturned, and he does all this with a fluid and nonchalant language as if it’s not hard at all to describe and comprehend. My only guess is that he dedicated a huge part of his life to living and loving this subject, or else he’s a time traveler.
Cronin describes Florence in the renaissance times as if he was there, reporting as a journalist. From the philosophy and scholars to anecdotes and gossips, there’s no rock left unturned, and he does all this with a fluid and nonchalant language as if it’s not hard at all to describe and comprehend. My only guess is that he dedicated a huge part of his life to living and loving this subject, or else he’s a time traveler.
April 26, 2017
Excellent history of Florence during the 13th and 14th centuries. Alternated back-and-forth between broader historical context, local history, and biopics of many of the artists and figures of the day. A bit long and a little tedious at times, but essential if you're planning a trip to Florence and want to some history to help your appreciation.
December 16, 2024
Overall decent. His description of the major events (especially the French invasion) and people (Cosimo & Lorenzo d'Medici and Botticelli in particular) are engaging and satisfying. Unlike Strathern's recent book, Cronin has a solid grasp on Florentine history and can weave together the artists everyone cares about with cultural and political history. The book's massive weakness, which bring it down to 3-stars, are 1) his ignorance of antiquity and 2) his conviction that the Florentine Renaissance was about wholesome chungus republican communal values, with a healthy sprinkling of Christian piety, and not unbridled individualism. Any idea of rejection of Christian morality is swept under the rug. He's also strangely insistent that the Medici weren't de facto rulers, he wants to maintain that the republic was fine and normal throughout the 15th century. The section on Discovery is weak; it's well-acknowledged that science in the Florentine Renaissance wasn't an area with particularly notable advances, yet Cronin tries to tie everything from Columbus to Copernicus back to the city he's writing about. The parts where he tries to show how ancient ideals, particularly Platonic philosophy influenced the arts are hamfisted because he doesn't understand Plato or antiquity well enough. Despite this major shortcoming, his descriptions of the artists' lives and the art itself are still the strongest part of the book. The treatment of Savanorola was good too, I appreciated that he avoided the usual 2d portrayal of the man and explained how his appeal grew out of trends already in place.
March 5, 2020
A well-written, moving, enjoyable story, populated by the main characters of the Florentine Renaissance, all lovingly depicted.
Yet, unfortunately, this is romanticised and distorting history of the Renaissance at its most pronounced. It treats medieval commonplaces as if they were unique Florentine recoveries of the classical tradition.
For instance, Ficino's ideas about friendship drawn from Plato are presented as a total reversal of medieval attitudes, completely missing the main medieval treatise on friendship by Ailred of Rievaulx.
Still a good read, though, and modern writing has perhaps swung too far the other way, to the point of exposing the Renaissance away entirely.
Yet, unfortunately, this is romanticised and distorting history of the Renaissance at its most pronounced. It treats medieval commonplaces as if they were unique Florentine recoveries of the classical tradition.
For instance, Ficino's ideas about friendship drawn from Plato are presented as a total reversal of medieval attitudes, completely missing the main medieval treatise on friendship by Ailred of Rievaulx.
Still a good read, though, and modern writing has perhaps swung too far the other way, to the point of exposing the Renaissance away entirely.
June 13, 2023
An interesting book covering Florence in the 13/1400s. It discusses many aspects of the Florentine Renaissance in depth and overall paints a colourful picture of the Medici’s Florence.
Only snag is that I felt Cronin occasionally goes off topic for a while, and then goes fairly in depth about said tangent.
Only snag is that I felt Cronin occasionally goes off topic for a while, and then goes fairly in depth about said tangent.
November 16, 2020
Average.
November 10, 2024
a brilliant, beautiful book
December 11, 2013
Vincent Cronin uses words so vivid that no illustration can capture in his quest to inform the world of the enterprising Florentine citizens and how they changed the artistic world by revisiting the ancient Roman and Greek Ideals. From Coluccio Salutati, the Chancellor of the Republic of Florence who bestowed upon the citizenry the necessary education for prosperity to Girolamo Savonarola who according to Cronin eroded the resilient and enterprising spirit of the Florentine that led to fall of the city.
In between, the book covers the life of great Florentine residents such as The Medici, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Leornado Bruni, Filippo Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Donatello among other but it is Cosimo de' Medici who stands out as the patron of Renaissance Florence. The day to day narration of the Florentine life encapsulating all aspects of living makes a satisfactory read and agreeable conclusions. The most outstanding mark of the book are personal letters and relation among prominent personalities that crowns the writing.
In between, the book covers the life of great Florentine residents such as The Medici, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Leornado Bruni, Filippo Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Donatello among other but it is Cosimo de' Medici who stands out as the patron of Renaissance Florence. The day to day narration of the Florentine life encapsulating all aspects of living makes a satisfactory read and agreeable conclusions. The most outstanding mark of the book are personal letters and relation among prominent personalities that crowns the writing.
May 18, 2015
Standing up well despite its age. Excellent account for general reader and student. Good handle on Platonic philosophy underpinning much of the intellectual reawakening and a keen eye for portraiture of key players.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews