Florence Stories

by Ella Carr (Editor)

Florence's world-famous Renaissance is brought to life in this anthology through the eyes of its most illustrious chroniclers. Beginning with Dante's vision of Inferno , teeming with his Florentine enemies, to the artist Cellini's swashbuckling adventures in High Renaissance Italy, and including the pioneering writings of Boccaccio, Ficino, Guicciardini and Vasari, this selection shows that in literature, as in art, Florence was a trailblazer.

The city's long tradition of mesmerizing foreigners is celebrated in selections from Tobias Smollet, Henry James, D.H. Lawrence and Stendhal (whose rapturous impressions gave name to 'Stendhal syndrome'), while indigenous writers such as Curzio Malaparte and Vasco Pratolini paint a far grittier portrait of Florence under the looming cloud of Fascism and World War II. Salman Rushdie's dazzling novel The Enchantress of Florence takes inspiration from the city's gilded Renaissance past, while Mary McCarthy's masterful travelogue captures a bustling 20th century market city. George Eliot, Rainer Maria Rilke, Iris Origo and Penelope Fitzgerald are among the other brilliant writers whose stories illuminate the many faces of this fascinating city.

Genres: Short Stories, Italy, Fiction

448 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Dity · Rating 4 out of 5]

The collection houses some intriguing and beautiful texts presented chronologically. The only drawback is that it includes a lot of excerpts and makes you yearn for the complete tale. Still, a perfectly enjoyable and informative read, especially if you've already visited Florence.

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I planned my trip to Florence, I found this group of stories really fun in helping me to understand the history of the city and gave me a glimpse of other viewpoints over the years. I love these little books with excerpts from various authors, which can also help you decide if you want to read deeper in those works.

[Nikky Southerland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been an admitted Florence hater, but this is a very minority opinion, and I figured this collection may change my mind. Did it? I'm not sure.

As with all books of this type, some of the stories were better than others. Pick and choose, and don't be afraid to move on to the next if the one you're currently on doesn't strike your fancy.

[Jennifer lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I bought it while I’m Florence so it was in my mind. What a beautiful and amazing city it is. This is a good book for anyone that loves Florence and it’s easy to pick up and read a little and then put down.

[Pierre Sabourin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lire si vous connaissez Florence. Mes préférés:
- Decameron: Petrarch
- The fat woodworker: Manetti
- Rome, Naples, Florence: Stendhal
- Romola: Eliot
- Diary of a man of fifty: Henry James
- Up at the villa: Maugham
- The enchantress of Florence: Rushdie

[Δημήτριος Καραγιάννης · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of beautiful stories that will make one reminisce the sights and people of Florence, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.