Between the birth of Dante in 1265 and the death of Galileo in 1642, painting, sculpture, and architecture would all visibly change in striking fashion, and sciences would be born—or emerge in an entirely new guise. In literature and philosophy, an increasing emphasis on the development of our common humanity—rather than other-worldly spirituality—coalesced in what came to be known as humanism. As the author of The Borgias shows, this wave of new ideas began in Florence, and as these Renaissance ideas spread further across Europe, a distinctly Florentine element would remain.

"Strathern paints an accessible portrait of Renaissance-era Florence…. Buoyed by incisive details and a brisk pace, this is a welcome introduction to the city and the personalities behind the Renaissance."—Publishers Weekly