The Medici Audiobook By Paul Strathern cover art

The Medici

Power, Money, and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance

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The Medici

By: Paul Strathern
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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A dazzling history of the modest family that rose to become one of the most powerful in Europe, The Medici is a remarkably modern story of power, money, and ambition.

Against the background of an age that saw the rebirth of ancient and classical learning, Paul Strathern explores the intensely dramatic rise and fall of the Medici family in Florence as well as the Italian Renaissance, which they did so much to sponsor and encourage. Interwoven into the narrative are the lives of many of the great Renaissance artists with whom the Medici had dealings, including Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Donatello as well as scientists like Galileo and Pico della Mirandola.

In his enthralling study, Strathern also follows the fortunes of those members of the Medici family who achieved success away from Florence, including the two Medici popes and Catherine de' Medici, who became queen of France and played a major role in that country through three turbulent reigns.

©2016 Paul Strathern (P)2016 Tantor Art Europe Historical Italy Renaissance Middle Ages Inspiring Royalty Middle East Italian History Renaissance

Critic reviews

"A fantastically comprehensive history covering the breadth of the great learning, art, politics, and religion of the period." ( Kirkus)
Comprehensive History • Engaging Narrative • Rich Historical Context • Fascinating Family Saga • Accessible Storytelling
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I became obsessed with listening to this excellent read about the Medici! If you’ve watched the Medici tv series, you can easily put faces with names and it makes the listen more real! I will listen again! It gives an excellent family lineage outline as well as that of artists and scientists that helped shape the world!

Excellent history!!

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Fantastic insightful review of the Medici history. Been to Firenze several times but, now I really want to go back and experience everything again and with a revised perspective. Superbly written and delivered exquisitely.
Thank you.

I couldn’t stop listening….

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Well written, and gives a good historical, financial and social account the lives of the Medici family

Nothing short of splendid

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Elegantly written with clear connections of the rise and transfer of power within the Medici family both in commerce, politics and religion.

Fantastic!

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The quality of the writing, the understanding of what makes history interesting, the in-depth look at the personalities of the Medici families, make this a fabulous book, beautifully done. And the reader gets six stars. I couldn’t put it down. Not since Barbara Tuchman have I read such good history.

I loved this book

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Brings history alive is what I like most about this book………………have read all of this series.

The intimate view of 250 years of the family

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The story flowed easily and context was interestingly provided. This was very enjoyable and informational.

Very good story on the Medici history.

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This is a really interesting look at the Medici and that time in "Italian" history; it has an overly detailed start, but got better as it went along. It did take me a long time to finish, though. Time well spent, though, and gave me some good understanding about Italian history before my trip there later this year.

Very detailed, but worth it overall

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This book covers about three hundred years of the Medici family, but in the process, you learn a lot about Italy, Europe, and human nature. You also see how good and bad dynastic dictatorships can be as well as how democracy will fail without the full commitment of the population. There are many other lessons to be learned from this book. A population defended by mercenaries is never safe. A population not willing to give their lives to defend their freedoms will be subjugated. There are a lot of lessons about life and government in this book.

Excellent!

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I wish Derek Perkins narrated all my audio books. His voice and delivery are fabulous.
This comprehensive telling of the Medici dynasty includes information on all the characters important to the various epochs as well.

Wonderfully constructed & read

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