The Family Medici: The Hidden History of the Medici Dynasty Hardcover – March 6, 2018

Excellent, detailed book about many generations of Medicis. Also contains beautiful pictures of their palaces, art collections, family members, etc.

The book is written in an excellent, popular style, though the text is really professional. A vast number of historical facts describing a story about one of the most powerful family over the times.The way Medici came to the enormous power and how they used their potential, is very interesting. Also, their contribution to the development of Renaissance, sponsoring great artists, cannot be forgotten

One of many books read abt Medici familyGood story - good writing - informative

I am a person with an above average academic education of the Medici family, although certainly not an expert. While I enjoy Hollingsworth's writing style and organization, I cannot help feeling disappointed at her lack of information regarding the Medici's role in the commission of Brunelleschi's Dome and their role in the life of a young Michaelangelo. I agree that the Medici were no saints, however to omit such important facts surrounding the Medici family history forces me to question the author's credibility.

I'm a sucker for renaissance history, particularly by female authors, and this didn't disappoint. A very entertaining read covering the rise (and fall) of Florence's famous family.

Little known history of this interesting historical family

This a hard one to review, because for a certain type of reader "The Family Medici" is a very good read -- and I happen to be that kind of reader.But for others, the simple recitation of the Medici family's history in Florence might seem almost aimless, for there's no attempt by Mary Hollingsworth to draw any grand conclusions about history, or the Renaissance, or art patronage. "The Family Medici" is the story of this fascinating Italian family's journey through the complex politics and ugly realities of medieval life, and Hollingsworth does nothing to gloss over the less savory aspects of the time.For example, she pretty much destroys any sense that the famed Lorenzo was anything like "magnificent," laying out his profligate spending, persistent public relations and autocratic tendencies in detail. She also spares no mercy for the popes of that time, chronicling their corruption, secular interests and of course, their focus on their families to the detriment of the Church itself.And as this sumptuously illustrated book moves on -- it's a miracle it's only $20 -- it also becomes clear how fragile life was at the time, even without the occasional outbursts of plague. Yes, poisoning was common around the papal court, but people died young from disease, accident (banging a head on a doorway, for example) and simple bad luck. The dynastic plans of the Medici, the Hapsburgs, the Bourbons, the Borgias and every other powerful family were at the mercy of death in childbirth or lack of male offspring, which turned the wheels of history in a different direction.Again, I enjoyed this book, as Hollingsworth is a good writer, but it is more a chronicle of events than a novelistic version of history. Still, if Renaissance Italy holds much fascination for you, "The Family Medici" will broaden and deepen your knowledge of that complex and complicated historial era.

I've read a few books on the Medici and was curious about Mary's take on the subject. In short, she comes off as an elementary school tattle tale. I just imagine a 7 year old girl in pony tails running around the playground yelling "na na na"!

As i expexted, very well researched, highly recommended!!!!!.

acquistato per un regalo