A Florentine Diary from Fourteen Fifty to Fifteen Sixteen

by Jervis A. Rosen

English (translation)Original Italian

Genres: Renaissance, History

308 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1977

Reviews

[Occhi Aperti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a diary by an apothecary that lived during the Renaissance in Florence. It is an eyewitness of key events including the Medici, the Borgias, the fighting Pope, Venetians, and French incursions into the Italian peninsula. It also includes the activities and impact of Fra Savoranola on Florentine life. It is a source book used by many authors to write their historical dramas, etc. It is not an easy read, but gripping once you get into it. The book shows how difficult it was for Florence to maintain a representative and elected government in the face of all the personalities and pressures from outside and within. If you are keen on the Renaissance, Florence, history and politics it is a must read.

[FirstNations Bobations · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was like reading someone elses mail. I was surprised at the kind of thing that this gentleman chose to note down, and how open he was to Savonarola's movement, particularly after S. was excommunicated. I was also appalled at the sheer chaos going on in the Italy of that day...plague, warfare, armed 'visits' from the French, and in the middle of it all this utter wack job Savonarola stirring the people to waste their efforts on vain displays of faith and purity instead of rallying them to band together and oppose the political destabilization all around them. Fascinating everyday look into an amazing period of history.

[Lellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So manyyyyyy names! Great book, but so many names to keep track of to actually follow along. Highly worth a read.