THE FLORENTINES: FROM DANTE TO GALILEO

The sweeping story of a changing city Author Paul Strathern Publisher Pegasus Books Price £20 Released Out Now

In his new book The Florentines: From Dante to Galileo, novelist Paul Strathern tells a true story that has as many twists and turns as any work of fiction. It is an epic journey through four centuries of Florentine history, and one that tells the story not only of the city, but of the people who lived there. In doing so, Strathern brings to life the events that led to the birth of the Renaissance.

Beginning with the birth of Dante in 1265 and ending with the death of Galileo nearly 400 years later, Strathern presents the history of a city that changed Western culture forever. In Florence, he posits, science, art and architecture underwent such a groundbreaking change and such an important series of discoveries, that its impact is still felt today. It was a city where great minds came together in pursuit of discovery, and one driven by a concept that came to be known as humanism, rather than a spirituality that found its roots in the heavens.

In Strathern’s capable hands, what could be an unwieldy narrative is eminently readable. He brings both the city and its inhabitants vividly to life, and in doing so makes a persuasive case for Florence’s unique role in the Renaissance. It was a city in which some of the greatest minds of the era were born, and characters including Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci will be familiar to readers with even just a passing interest in history. Yet Strathern recognises that Florence was not in a vacuum, and he contextualises the events there within the wider world, focussing on how its geographic position made it a hub to which travellers from across the globe flocked. In this melting pot, it was inevitable that new and innovative ideas would flourish in every field from art to technology to business and beyond.

Strathern’s previous experience as both a historian and a novelist is evident in this well-written and exhaustively researched book. Despite the enormous sweep of the text and the large cast of characters Strathern never loses focus or lets the pace flag. It is a page-turner, and one that presents a fascinating new perspective on the stories and people of Florence.

The Florentines: From Dante to

Galileo is a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Those who are already an expert on the subject will likely find some of the material familiar, but they will also find Strathern’s perspective on the city intriguing.

For those who are casually interested or simply curious to know more, the book will no doubt be as eye-opening as it is impressive.

The text is illustrated throughout, and Strathern has provided a wealth of additional information to guide readers through the narrative. From family trees to further reading, Strathern’s extensive research is evident on every page.

His analysis of Florence’s importance in the wider world is persuasive and fascinating, and The Florentines: From Dante to Galileo, is a book that more than does it justice.

“A page-turner that presents a fascinating new perspective on the stories and people of Florence”