3 comments about A Brief History of Vatican II.

1. Having just finished a course on Vatican II, I found this short history of Vatican II to be very helpful in detailing some of the mystery and intrigue that went on behind the scenes. A must read for anyone who wants to know the "whole story".



2. Giuseppe Alberigo is probably the greatest living expert on Vatican II, having worked in its preparation and been closely involved, as a layman, with many of the clerical leaders of the Council. These days there are all kinds of ideologically-motivated efforts afoot to downplay the significance of the Council and to criticize "liberals" for distorting its message. Alberigo shows clearly the drama of the struggle on the part of the bishops, liberal and conservative alike, for freedom from the stifling hand of the Roman Curia (the church's central bureaucracy), and tells a truly exciting story about the successes and even the failures of the Council fathers. Incidentally, anyone who reads this can only look at many of the struggles in today's church and see them as but the latest chapter in an ongoing struggle between a controlling central bureaucracy and a world-wide church concerned above all with pastoral care of the church.



3. Guiseppe Alberigo was a young professional when the council began. He was involved with Cardinal Lercaro's group from Bologna. His doctoral dissertation had been on the Council of Trent written under Hubert Jedin, the best in the field. Alberigo was with Cardinal Lercaro's group at the four sessions of the Council. Afterwards he edited the multivolume history of the Second Vatican Council, presented in English by Dr. Joseph Komonchak of the Catholic University of America.
   
   This is worth reading, even if the style is not the most limpid. You will meet someone who was part of the Council. Cardinals Ruini and Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) prefer to see the Council more as a continuity than does Alberigo and the Bologna school. He sees the council as an overcoming of the Constantinian and Post-Tridentine traditions.
   
   Stephen Palmer

4 comments about Harry's Bar: The Life & Times of the Legendary Venice Landmark.

1. It's hard to believe that its been almost a year since I was in Venice, enjoying a cocktail at Harry's Bar one evening before dinner. This book sheds some light on the history and reputation of the establishment. However, in spite of the title, this book isn't just about Harry's Bar. It also has characteristics of a memoir, describing the author's experiences both in Venice and in New York, where two related establishments have existed at various times. There are also traces of a gossip column in here as well, as the author describes some of the rich and famous who have patronized Harry's Bar over the years.
   
   This is a pleasant read, if a little shallow in content. Perhaps the most interesting element of this book (at least for me, anyway) is the author's views on what constitutes quality service. It is interesting to read an insider's rant against the popular trends in the hospitality industry. I also enjoy the descriptions of Venice, as they provided me with a wonderful chance to reflect on the beauty of that city.



2. In November of 2007 in Harry's Bar, that venerable Venice institution, my friend and I had two small martinis each, and I bought a copy of this book which the wait staff gently push. The bill for the two drinks and the book was $132.00, so we know that Harry's is pricey. Giuseppe Cipriani founded the bar in 1931 with the financial aid of a wealthy American named Harry Pickering who provided the bar with its name. Pickering was a silent partner and within a few years Cipriani bought him out. This book is told by Giuseppe's son, Arrigo. The father apprenticed in every aspect of the hospitality industry and loved it.
   Giuseppe picked out the small fifteen foot by thirty foot space which had been a cordage warehouse at the end of a dead end street on the lagoon right near St. Mark's Square. He espoused three things in his business: quality, a smile, and simplicity.
   This is, of course, a puff piece, a self-serving promotion for the bar and its numerous other restaurants and enterprises. A touching scene is a description of the father's funeral with seven splendid gondolas and the sixteen magnificent gondoliers. The city's vaporini slowed to watch the procession pass.
   Harry's was and is host to the famous of the world. Ernest Hemingway helped make the bar famous as did Orson Welles, Truman Capote, the Aga Khan, Barbara Hutton, and innumerable other celebs. It's a gossipy, kiss and tell-all book. One wishes at times that Arrigo would be more discreet in his stories. It should have been his dictum that what happened in Harry's stayed in Harry's.
   The last half of the book is really well-padded and falls apart as the boastful Arrigo tells about establishing his New York empire. There is a chapter in which workmen natter on about nothing and a long-winded chapter containing what Arrigo thinks is the hilarious correspondence between himself and a customer.
   The pureed peach and champagne cocktail called the Bellini was invented there, and is still the signature drink of the place. Carpaccio was popularized there.
   Arrigo has a sharp tongue and is not afraid to be nasty and sarcastic about certain customers. It's a gotcha piece as well as a puff piece. Having been there several times, I can say that the Venice establishment does have a wonderful ambience, and the help are friendly. Oh, but those exorbitant prices are probably those most memorable feature of the place. But if you can't afford to play, don't suit for the game. May Harry's live forever. Cheers!



3. My dad, Thomas Kelley, like me, and the G.I.s he was with, were the first Americans to enter Harry's Bar, after World War II. My mom shared that story, with me, when I gave her this book. When we were living, in Italy, we'd also go, when we dropped by Venice, where my dad's favorite was a canneloni. All the stories are so real, take you back there, like you were there, but unfortunately, one thing was missing, the delicious food that we read about. Perhaps I can make myself a Bucket List, one day and have Harry's Bar, at the top of my list!?!?!?!



4. This is an easy and enjoyable read that gives you a true look into the world of the Ciprianis. Includes original photos as well!

4 comments about Florence: The Golden Age 1138-1737.

1. Penned by an eminent historian, this book is superb! Very striking is Brucker's unique narrative style. He makes the readers think as if the events happened only yesterday. I strongly recommend his other works as well: You will feel enlightened. No other historian can capture the cultural richness of Florence with such delightful charm. I guarantee you'll fall in love with the city, her citizens, and this historian, Gene Adam Brucker.



2. The word "amateur" comes from the Italian "amare" which means to love and this is a book for anyone with an interest in and affection for Italian city states and Florence in particular. Mr. Gene Brucker is a distinguished American historian (University of California, Berkeley) with an admirable record but the book he has produced about Florence is meant for the general reader and obviously aims at sharing his passion for the quattrocento (Florence's golden age, the 15th century and beyond) with as many people as possible. The result is splendid : in seven chapters dealing with the great families, the economy, the forms of government, the Florentine dominion, the Principato, etc., the reader is taken through a pleasant voyage in history. The writing is never heavy but neither is it meant for those who give up easily : some of the chapters - on the conflicts between Guelfs and Ghibellines for instance - do require more than a passing interest in the subject. The book is lavishly illustrated and contains a number of separate "two pagers" I greatly enjoyed, which present a number of interesting topics in themselves, such as the description of a city plan, the features of a traditional Florentine palazzo, the currencies in use, the reach of Florentine trade, the guilds, Andrea del Verocchio, the geometric theory of perspective and many other topics. An admirable book, to be highly recommended.



3. After reading Mary McCarthy's The Stones of Florence, I decided that I wanted to read a more straightforward history of the city. I picked this book based on the Amazon reviews, but never expected a coffee table-type book, albeit with a paper cover. Lavishly illustrated, The Golden Age of Florence covers the city from the initial stages of the Renaissance to its end. Florence was a turbulent city, sometimes ruled by a group of nobility, sometimes by its guilds, and eventually by the Medici. The city faced as much danger from its own internal squabbles as it did from its external enemies. Yet, despite this, the city experience unprecedented economic , industrial, and artistic development , producing some of the finest wool in Europe along with Dante, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Botticelli, among so many.
   
   This book does a fine job of telling this story, not just the politics, but the economics and the various arts. It is a general overview, not meant to be a scholarly work. The writing is designed to bring the reader to the Florence during its Golden Age, drawing interesting portraits of all the relevant characters. I grew somewhat frustrated with the lack of connection between one event to another. Savonarola somehow sneaked up, took over the city, and died as a heretic, with no real explanation of who he was and how he came to take on such a role. Although the book itself only covers a 600 year period of time, an appendix in the back does have a brief synopsis of historical events starting from its founding and ending with the rule by the Austrians. The illustrations in the book are arranged in categories, so each page centers not on the text itself, though it may be related, but on the general theme. The author has selected drawings from manuscripts, photographs of sculptures and buildings, and representations of paintings.
   
   Despite any quibbles mentioned, I highly recommend the book for anyone who wants to learn a general overview of the history of Florence illustrated with some of the finest works of art that man has ever produced.



4. If you want to know about the most beautiful city on Earth during the Renaissance, look no further than this title. The author provides detailed information on everything you could want to know. Perfect for the history buff, lover of art, Florence-fanatic, or tourist headed to Italy. Much better than Michael Levey's Florence.

No comments about Florence and the Medici.

5 comments about Rome from the Ground Up.

1. I read many of the comments by the other reviews, and I was surprised by some of the comments, particularly those of the review from Amsterdam. Please do not read his review thinking that the Blue Guide to Rome surpasses this book. It is simply misleading and not true. The Blue Guide to Rome is opinionated and poorly written, whereas McGregor's book is more impartial and fair in its assessment of Rome.
   
   In my edition, there are no errors that were mentioned by another reviewer. What this book lacks are clearer maps that could be consulted as you read. Flipping to the back of the book will only leave the reader confused.
   
   I wouldn't classify this work as a travel guide, although it certainly could be used as one. The author's task here was to communicate to the reader the many facets of Rome. Rome is a conglomeration of different architectures, different pasts that has been influenced by countless people. McGregor attempts to weave it all together into a coherent "story"...a "potrait" if you will. He attempts to build Rome, "from the ground up". Think of Rome like a cake...if you were to cut it and then pull away a slice, you would see those layers. Rome is a city built on itself, and I think that this is what the title conveys.
   
   My fingers and toes are not enough to count the number of times that I have been to Rome, and I have spent many months and years. I know the city well. When I read the book, I had not been there in almost two years. As I turned the pages of McGregor's book, I almost felt myself there. And that, I feel, is the author's greatest triumph -- providing a framework for further reading, study or travel.



2. Writer trying to find a public
   When I bought Rome from the ground up I had no idea what to expect, thinking it was perhaps something along the line of Krautheimers Profile of a city (which by the way is mentioned in the bibliograpy of the book), showing the many layers of which Rome exists and the city's long and complicated history. Just to illustrate what I mean: if you are standing in the Forum and looking at the eight surviving columns of the temple of Saturn, it would be just as easy to write ten pages about what you are seeing, as ten pages about what you are not seeing. Doing both would be quite a job. Krautheimer describes the period from 312 till 1308, skipping republic and large part of imperial Rome, and has, in my first edition, 360 very large, double columned and small lettered pages.
   But Rome from the ground up is not that sort of book. Thank God, some readers will say. You' ll find that out just by taking it in your hands. The book has 320 small pages with lots of margin, small pictures, and no maps. It is organised in 8 chronological chapters, beginning with Tiber Island and Forum Boarium, than the Forum, next the imperial part of the city and so on, ending in the 19th century really. The idea of the structure is that in this way you get an chronological overview of the city, of which different parts were indeed built in different and succeeding periods. Every chapter could be a walk, or part of it. A small problem is that you would, in each part of the city, be able to point out things which do'nt fit in, and that now and then you would have to cover quite some distance to find everything that does. In his chapter on the Baroque Mc Gregor passes from the Via del Quirinale, by way of the Palazzo Barberini to the Villa Borghese. I admit that there is a lot of Baroque to be seen, but I sincerely hope he took a bus to do so (number 10, if I am not mistaken). Mc Gregor knows Rome a lot better than I do, I presume, while behind the things he writes looms a lot more knowledge which he doesn't use. And of course, it always is a pleasure to read someone who obviously loves Rome very much. And yes, he writes well, and yes, it must have been fun to write the book too. Yet, Rome from the ground up is really nothing more than a travelguide, without the facilities that normally accompany such a book. I find the title a bit of a gimmick and also the only pretentious part of the book. What is meant, is that a chronological presentation of Rome is from the ground up.
   I guess the problem with Rome from the ground up is who its reader is supposed to be. Although the author himself suggest that while "the book stands on its own as a portrait of the city, its format and organisation also makes Rome from the ground up a useful guide to travelers", I don 't think I agree, on both points that is. As a guide it is not of much use, and you would be better off buying a Blue Guide (still the best). As a book to read at home it is only of use if you know Rome well. But then, if you know Rome well, this is no longer the sort of book you read. The long descriptions of streets, palazzi, museums etc. which you don't see, can be very fatiguing. As a travel guide it doesn't work. The author seems to have guessed the problems readers could have with his book. "Maps can be had free everywhere in Rome", he says, "and updating guides all the time has become useless in these modern internet-times." I find that rather silly. When you are walking through Rome, internet is not of much use. Having a map and a guide at the same time is in practice laborious. On the other hand I agree that you will always need a good map. But it is nice if text and maps are integrated in a sensible way, as long as you are walking, especially since Rome is not New York. I usually take several guides with me. At the same time Rome from the ground up, although well written, is also somewhat superficial, even while it has some nice personal touches. But if you for instance would really visit the musea which are described in the book, the texts there wouldn't be of much use. You might even have problems finding the entrance of the place you try to visit, or not find it at all. Ostia isn't there, the catacombs aren't, and 20th century EUR, the part of the city started under Mussolini, and finished after the second world war, gets no treatment, which I find a pity. And it wouldn't be fair to complain about that to the author. A guide doesn't have to deliver an ongoing story and can structure its text in an easier way. And still the Blue Guide needs more than 600 pages. In short, while using Rome from the ground up as a guide would not be comfortable, reading it at home is not much use too. Bit of a waste really.



3. I felt this was something of a mixed bag. Parts of it were illuminating and fresh (the geological overview; the argument that Rome is not a palimpsest of overlaid cities but a mosaic of successive cities lying mostly side-by-side), other parts less so (the ho-hum chapter on the Roman Forum).
   
   There are, however, some major historical howlers. Two will suffice: McGregor states that the senate was staffed by patricians and was all-powerful, when in fact patricians were a minority in the senate and it had no legal power whatsoever. It was certainly influential, but it was hardly all-powerful. Elsewhere, McGregor states that Vespasian (69-79) succeeded Titus (79-81), when in fact it was the opposite, as the dates in brackets make clear. Silly errors in fact like this undermine my trust in those parts of the book covering areas I am less familiar with.
   
   All in all, this book is worth having, but not a patch on Aicher's *Rome Alive* or Claridge's *Rome; An Archaeological Guide* for the curious traveller.



4. This book will not be for everyone, but it was for me. I walked (and ran) all over Rome for a week a few months ago with the aid of a useful, but necessarily terse, guidebook. So I know the city superficially, but not very well. McGregor's treatise filled many gaps for me nicely. I wanted to know more about the architecture and history of Rome, and this book did the job. McGregor is strong on his architecture and passable on his history. I did find myself skimming some of the finer architectural points, but I put the blame on my impatience more than on the author, who writes well. I think the book is better read after, rather than before or during a trip to Rome. I found myself turning often to the maps in the back which are coordinated with the text.



5. Of the several guidebooks I have walked around Rome with on several visits, this is the most insightful. The locations, buildings, objets d'art on which the author chooses to comment are placed in the context of historical forces -- political, social, and economic. I came away with a much better understanding of the significance of what I saw then ever before in Rome.
   
   However, there are several drawbacks. First, it is sometimes difficult to follow the text while walking. The text is keyed to the occasional picture, but not to the maps at the end of the book, so you may frequently not know just where you are and where you are to go next. Second, some of the walks are ordered in a sensible sequence; some make no sense at all, jumping back and forth over kilometer-long gaps. Third, the book tells you nothing about places you pass as you proceed from one location the author chose to the next. Finally, the book is printed on a glossy paper which makes it rather heavy, and somewhat unpleasant to carry.
   
   My recommendation: Read this book in your hotel room, before or after your walk, but walk with a different guidebook. (My favorite for walking in Rome is still the Michelin Green Guide.)

4 comments about Finding Your Italian Roots. The Complete Guide for Americans. Second Edition.

1. If it's family tree research you're seeking for a strong library collection, don't miss John Philip Colletta, Ph.D.'s Finding Italian Roots, 2nd Edition, which first appeared in 1993 and has been thoroughly revised for this latest presentation. From accessing and interpreting the records available for tracking Italian ancestors and recording their stories to locating key sources of records and civil and religious resources, Finding Italian Roots is packed with specific tips unique to Italian roots.



2. Dr. Colletta was very practical in his advice to genealogists - exhaust the resources here in the United States before beginning research in Italy. Once you get to Italy, there are numerous resources of which the book only gives a taste.
   
   He was also truthful when he said that Italians could care less about genealogy (they have the honor and privilege of living amongst thousands of years of history everyday) but they are very accomodating once you get to Italy (can't wait to experience that feeling!).
   
   I found the map of Italy - pre and post unification - helpful as well as the history of Italian Jews and the fact that they're the oldest type of Jew in the world. There still exists a somewhat healthy amount of Jews in Rome, which I found fascinating.
   
   With every book that I read about genealogy, I realize that no matter how many years of research I've done, there's still a lot to be learned and resources to be used that I still don't know about yet.
   
   I just wish the book would be updated.



3. This book is full of good information, indeed some of the idiocyncrqacies of the field of our precious heritage. It is realistic, honest and encourgaing to any level of researcher. There are stories we all can relate to . Another good reference for Italo-Americans.



4. Since Finding Italian Roots first appeared in 1993, an ever increasing number of Americans have become interested in tracing their Italian heritage. This thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded Second Edition provides up-to-date information about accessing and interpreting the vast universe of materials available for tracking Italian ancestors and recording their stories for future generations. It contains more state and local sources, more point-by-point explanations, more step-by-step instructions, more "insider" hints and helps, more illustrations, more specific examples, plus an expanded glossary and annotated bibliography, and numerous Internet websites in both English and Italian--all brought vividly to life through the colorful stories of real Italian and Italian-American ancestors. Whether you are just beginning your investigations or have been doing genealogy for years, this guide will help maximize your investment of time, effort, and money
   
   John Philip Colletta is one of America's most popular genealogical lecturers. Based in Washington, D.C., he teaches at the National Archives, Smithsonian Institution, and area universities. He is also a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (Birmingham, Ala.) and Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (Salt Lake City), and has been a course coordinator and instructor for other genealogical institutes as well. John was just a boy when he started asking his paternal grandparents about their roots in Italy. By 1971 he was tapping into Italian records through correspondence, and since then has made four research trips to his ancestral homeland. John's publications include numerous articles; the manual They Came in Ships:; A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record, now in its third edition; and the historical narrative Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy and Its Aftermath.

1 comments about Finding Your Italian Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide (Finding Your Ancestors).

1. As an experienced Italian genealogist, I welcome this addition to Italian genealogy "how to" books. It is appropriate for beginning researchers, and has enough new information and updates to interest those with experience. Suzanne has included much information on getting organized, accessing sources of information in the United States, and accessing many categories of civil and church records from Italy. Translations of Italian records and tips on Italian handwriting are very helpful, as are sample letters, lists of Italian occupations, terms, dates and numbers, and pertinent web-sites and societies. This book is user-friendly and a great resource for those tracing their Italian family history.

5 comments about Italian Genealogical Records: How to Use Italian Civil, Ecclesiastical & Other Records in Family History Research.

1. For those of you in search of your Italian heritage need look no further. Everything you need is right here in this relatively cheap book written by, get this, a non-Italian! Whether you just want to get your grandparents birth records from the 1890's or go all the way back to the 1700's to get your 5th great grandparents marriage record, this book will tell you how, in easy step by step instructions. Can't read or write in Italian? Mr. Cole's book does that for you, too. Don't know your Italian history? Guess what? Mr. Cole does, and he shares it with you in his book.
   There are many illustrations of actual Italian records from the 1800's to going back almost 1000 years, and he explains what each is and what the records say. This author covers the history of surnames as well.
   With the information in this book, it would be virtually impossible for someone who's ancestors were Italian not to discover their heritage.
   I strongly recommend this book.



2. Thank heavens this book came into my life as a dedicated heritage researcher, first generation Italo-American. Since I am alone in this, as are many out there I have founf doing this, I especially appreciated the wonderful sources, shortcuts, and information given to the noviate, although anyone can learn something from this complete guide. A great addition to the literature.



3. This was the first book I bought on Italian genealogy several years ago and it is still the best source for understanding Italian records. Using the form letters I have been successful in obtaining information from a variety of Italian sources. What is especially useful is the balance between the how to chapters and the background on the records. Highly recommended.



4. Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent book. But I found it to focus too much on providing general information rather than specific break-downs on actions to take.
   
   It may have been better if it were divided into two books- one giving the necessary history and background needed to understand how Italian records work, when they came into existence, etc. And another giving specific information and tips on how to obtain them.
   
   Italian records are as complex as it's history. So two books may have been in order, there is just so much information there. Or one book, with less information, but more specifics on each category that they chose.
   
   It left me a bit overwhelmed with knowledge, but still no clear direction to go in.
   
   It's kinda like when you are lost and try asking for directions and they tell you 3 different ways you can go, and all they do is confuse you more-so you have a lot of information but are somehow more confused. I'd rather have them tell me one way, that will get me there... I think that explains how I felt after reading this book.



5. This sourcebook is outstanding. I have read many similiar books but if you had to purchase one, this is it. It has everything and more than most others. It is packed with information. The first few chapters deal with Italian history which is invaluable. Without understanding Italian history you will not be able to understand how and why to search Italian ancestors in a way that is going to provide results. This books explains it all, has all the forms you'll need and is clear and concise. You will not be disappointed if you buy this book.

5 comments about Venice from the Ground Up.

1. 
   
   
   
   
   
   If you have been to Venice or are planning to go, "Venice from the Ground Up" is a great book and necessary for you to own.
   
   Why would a city become established and then flourish in what would seem to be the unlikeliest place--in the middle of a lagoon? In answering this question this excellent book proves the basic concept of the other "From the Ground Up" book, ("Rome from the Ground Up"), that you can't understand a city without knowing how it developed-and understand the interplay of natural and historical forces, and cultural institutions.
   
   Like the earlier book, this one visualizes a city at various moments in its lifespan. In Rome one grasps immediately that a modern city is overlying a classical one. Venice is different because after it consolidated from clusters of islands and channels became defined as canals, a city of waterways instead of streets emerged which presents a bewildering labyrinth to the visitor.
   
   This book is ingeniously well organized to sort it all out. The text presents a development of Venetian architecture, history and society in stages coordinated to the series of clearly legible maps at the end, with the places discussed in the text located in numbered sequence on the map, so that the book can be also be used as a guide to this exploration of Venice in a slice in time, by foot and boat. (Practical information is included on catching the Venetian bus, the vaporetto, etc.)
   
   I also own a thick comprehensive guidebook to the city organized in itineraries in various neighborhoods which I carried around with me in Venice--but "Venice from the Ground Up" is more valuable in understanding what you are seeing, which is more a matter of perspective and context than of minutiae.
   
   This is still a very complete and scholarly book, elegantly designed, illustrated with wonderful historic prints and paintings and beautiful contemporary photographs which seem to keep you moving between the present and the past. The author is a sparklingly inventive writer, and his descriptions are as vivid as paintings. I had to read through just to find out how the story of Venice would arrive at our own day.
   
   I love Canaletto's paintings, and this book has enlivened his paintings for me in new ways. If you love Venice, or are planning to go there, you need to have this book to enhance your understanding or renew your love of this amazing city.
   
   
   
   



2. This book is not a typical guide - where to eat and sleep - but rather a detailed architectural guide with enough history mixed in to put it all into context. Having explored most of the sites discussed, I found that the author gives excellent insight into the buildings, adds detail that enhances visits and turns the buildings that would otherwise blend into the city into treasures. A must for architecture fans and those who want to explore beyond the traditional half day in the St. Marks area.



3. After reading throughfully several books of Venice (both English and Spanish) this one provided insightful information, perfect tips, great history coverage. Highly recomended if you want to learn about Venice or planning a trip there.



4. This is a beautifully written and illustrated book for the Veneice lover. Nice mix of history and building descriptions.



5. Don't purchase the Kindle Edition of this book. It is an excellent book, but you won't have any of the illustrations or pictures that are a crucial part of the text.

5 comments about The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall.

1. This is one of only handful of books that I have started and not been able to finish. I love history and thought this book would be a nice change from some of the "fluffy" books I have been reading lately. To be honest, I had a time time following the book. There were too many names that I found hard to keep track of, plus there were many historial references that I made the book very confusing. I couldn't even make it past chapter 3. Dont waste your money like I did!



2. This history read like an adventure movie, especially the discription of Lorenzo the Magnificient's life. I'm surprised someone here thought it lifeless! Murders, riots, wars, seductions! What more could you want?



3. The many very good reviews on "The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall" compelled me to read it. It was a pretty good read indeed. The author covers the entire Medici history in great detail and the book reads quite well. There are also some nice illustrations. However, what was extremely disappointing was the lack of important supporting information, which is essential to history books. There were only two relatively poor maps (with very small font) and no map of Florence. Therefore, the location of the Medici villas, important battles and events are not shown. What is even worse: there is NO genealogy chart! I had to go back and forth and even tried the much inadequate Index to figure out who was the sister or brother or cousin of whom. I don't comprehend how this was not caught by any of the acknowledged proof readers or the Editor. Nevertheless, if you can get your hands on some good maps and the genealogy (e.g. Encyclopedia Britannica) the book is worth reading.



4. This book is a terrific narrative on the Medici's of Renaissance Florence. Hibbert captures the various Medici family members which included Cosimo and his banking empire which funded the dynasty. His grandson Lorenzo who was the greatest of all the patrons of Rennaisance artists such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Galileo. We meet Medici's who become Pope even though their only qualifications seem to be that they were Medici's. Hibbert also introduces us to their lethal competitors, the Pazzi family. The book includes murder, betrayal, ambition, sexual dalliances, great artists, and the fabulous setting of Florence. What more do you need for a great read.



5. This book provides a good overview of the Medici dynasty and the source of its power in Florence.