Fire in the City
Savonarola and the Struggle for the Soul of Renaissance Florence
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:10th Jul '07
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book explores the life of Girolamo Savonarola, revealing a complex figure who influenced Renaissance Florence and challenged the powerful elite.
In Fire in the City, Lauro Martines presents a captivating narrative that reads like a novel, delving into a pivotal moment in Renaissance history. The book centers around Girolamo Savonarola, a charismatic figure whose influence shaped late fifteenth-century Florence. Martines, a respected historian of Renaissance Italy, offers a fresh perspective on Savonarola, moving beyond the traditional portrayal of him as a grim demagogue. Instead, he reveals a multifaceted individual who played a significant role as both a religious and civic leader during a time of political upheaval.
Savonarola is often remembered for his fiery sermons and the infamous 'bonfire of the vanities,' where he urged his followers to renounce their worldly possessions. However, Fire in the City challenges this simplistic view, suggesting that such depictions were crafted by the affluent who felt threatened by his calls for reform. Martines illustrates how Savonarola sparked intense political discourse in a city emerging from the shadows of Medici rule, showcasing the complex interplay between morality and politics in his life and work.
Ultimately, the narrative culminates in Savonarola's tragic end, as the very passions he ignited led to his downfall. Yet, the impact of his ideas and actions left an indelible mark on Renaissance Florence. For those intrigued by the intricacies of this vibrant historical period, Fire in the City offers a vivid and insightful portrayal of one of its most compelling figures.
A rich and fascinating portrait of Girolamo Savonarola, the Dominican friar who ruled Florence after the fall of the Medicis. Enraged by church corruption, he led a Florentine council for 20 years * until his enemies burned him at the stake in 1498.Los Angeles Times *
Impressive narrative power.... A thoroughly good read that is also reliable history, scrupulously documented yet with its pages uncluttered by footnotes.... As in every tragedy, the pace quickens as the atmosphere darkens around the protagonist; and when all occasions begin to conspire against him, the reader is caught up in the pity, the cruelty * and the inevitabilityof his fate.... Savonarola's story...bears fresh retelling, and Lauro Martines does so with scholarly authority and an admirable combination of clarity and pace.Sir Michael Levey, Wall Street Journal *
Martines is one of our most renowned historians of the Italian Renaissance and of Florence in particular. His new book is, in some ways, a successor to April Blood , his account of the 'Pazzi' conspiracy to assassinate Lorenzo de' Medici in 1478. Together the two volumes make up an engrossing study of society and politics during the Tuscan city's most illustrious half century. * Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World *
Martines writes like an angel, and his judgments are nuanced and humane.... Makes a convincing case that history treated Savonarola unfairly: he was an eloquent preacher and a sagacious political advisor to the city.... This book will be read with profit by both professional scholars and general readers. * Library Journal (starred review) *
Martines's fast-paced study weaves a first-rate social history of Renaissance Florence with a deeply affecting and more complex portrait of Savonarola.... This absorbing account by Martines captures Savonarola's brilliance as well as the exciting and dangerous days of Renaissance Florence. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *
ISBN: 9780195327106
Dimensions: 232mm x 158mm x 24mm
Weight: 522g
352 pages