Death in Florence: The Medici, Savonarola and the Battle for the Soul of Man

Description

The bloody and dramatic story of the battle for the soul of Renaissance Florence, one of the defining moments in Western history. Lorenzo de' Medici- The embodiment of Florence's most powerful family, a brutal man who ruled the city with an iron fist, whilst protecting it from the shifting mire of Italian politics. Fra Girolamo Savonarola- An unprepossessing provincial monk whose sermons, filled with Old Testament fury, resonated with the disenfranchised population of the city. The battle between these two men would be a fight to the death, a series of sensational events - including a mighty foreign invasion, trial by fire, the 'Bonfire of the Vanities', terrible executions and mysterious deaths - featuring a cast of the most important and charismatic Renaissance figures.

Paul Strathern studied philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin. He has lectured in philosophy and mathematics. He is a Somerset Maugham Prize-winning novelist; author of two series of books - Philosophers in 90 Minutes and The Big Idea- Scientists who Changed the World; Mendeleyev's Dream (shortlisted for the Aventis Science Book Prize); Dr. Strangelove's Game- A History of Economic Genius, The Medici- Godfathers of the Renaissance; The Artist, the Philosopher and the Warrior and Spirit of Venice- From Marco Polo to Casanova.

Strathern combines diligent archival research with an exemplary narrative verve and keeps the pages turning -- Ian Thomson * Financial Times * Grips the reader from the first page... it is an arresting and horrifying tale and Strathern tells it with immense skill and verve * New Statesman *