The Medici

A new book challenges the idea that the Medici were wise rulers and enlightened fathers of the Renaissance, suggesting that they were as devious and immoral as the Borgias.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2022
Publisher: Head of Zeus

This forensic study of the Renaissance banking dynasty conjures up a world of art, literature, philosophy – and brutality. Telegraph. Likely to become the standard work of reference on the members of the family that dominated Florence. TLS. A lucid and beautifully illustrated family history. The Times. Wealthy bankers, wise politicians, patrons of the arts, glittering dukes... so runs the traditional telling of the story of the Medici, the family that ruled Florence for two hundred years and inspired the birth of the Italian Renaissance. In this definitive account of their rise and fall, Mary Hollingsworth argues that the idea that the Medici were wise rulers and enlightened fathers of the Renaissance is a fiction. In truth, she says, the Medici were as devious and immoral as the Borgias – tyrants loathed in the city they illegally made their own and which they beggared in their lust for power.

This forensic study of the Renaissance banking dynasty conjures up a world of art, literature, philosophy – and brutality.

The Telegraph predicts that this comprehensive account of the Medici family, who ruled Florence for two centuries and sparked the Italian Renaissance, will become the de facto standard reference work on its members.

TLS praises the book for its clarity and stunning illustrations, describing it as a masterful family history.

The Times highlights the wealth, wisdom, political influence, and artistic patronage of the Medici, portraying them as the quintessential rulers of the Renaissance era.

However, Mary Hollingsworth challenges this conventional narrative in her definitive account of the Medici's rise and fall. She argues that the notion that the Medici were wise rulers and enlightened fathers of the Renaissance is a mere fiction.

In reality, Hollingsworth asserts that the Medici were as devious and immoral as the notorious Borgias, tyrants who were despised in the city they illegally seized and impoverished through their insatiable thirst for power.

This forensic study delves into the intricate details of the Medici family's rise to power, their cunning strategies, and their ruthless tactics to maintain their dominance in Florence.

It uncovers the family's intricate web of alliances, betrayals, and power struggles, which ultimately led to their downfall and the resurgence of a more democratic government in the city.

Through vivid storytelling and detailed analysis, Hollingsworth sheds light on the complex personalities of the Medici family members, including Lorenzo de' Medici, Giuliano de' Medici, and Cosimo de' Medici.

She explores their contributions to art, literature, and philosophy, as well as their darker side, including their involvement in political corruption, extortion, and even murder.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Renaissance, Italian history, or the fascinating story of one of history's most notorious families.

Weight: 358g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803281254