Quick and informative read…

If you are a history buff or interested at all in Florence, Italy then this is your book. Novella-size, it offered general information on what the city was like for its residences between 1450 and 1500. Who were its people? How did they govern? How did they live, work, thrive and prosper? There was enough detail here to make it entertaining while offering a quick light read as well. I would have loved city maps and sketches of the streets, the clothes, the architecture – some added colour to complement what the author spoke so eloquently about.

For the expert, this read may not offer anything new but for anyone who may be curious, this is an excellent start…

A short, concise book on the city of Florence (Italy) during the Renaissance. Arguably one of the most fascinating cities on the planet (at least to me), this book covers the time period well. Well written, easily readable, and just plain fascinating. I really enjoyed this book.

A brilliant history of one of the most beautiful cities in the world during the height of the Italian Renaissance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ah, the Medici! If you were looking for a famous and powerful Italian name that all but symbolized in the syllables the Renaissance, you’d be hard pressed to find another like this one. Ah, Florence! One of the most magnificent cities of the world, and I’m not being biased (I’m not Italian), just honest—the whole town center is like a huge open-air museum.
Therefore, I was overjoyed to be granted an ARC of this “History of Florence in the times of the Medici.” I didn’t check the page count when requesting it, so when I received it, I opened it in a rather anxious state of mind—the book being very short, I expected either a cursory and superficial overview of the topic or a list-like compendium crammed to the brim with details.
To my surprise and delight, it was neither the former nor the latter. An overview, yes; but far from cursory or superficial, the book had a charming novelesque quality; its descriptions, lovingly crafted, were breathing the Late Middle Ages and had the genuine look and feel of Florence all through the different chapters. Well written, well researched, fluid and extremely readable. Of course, if you’re a scholar specialized in that era and area, you will be disappointed. But for the amateur historian and the lover of Florence, this is a really pleasant must-read that tells its (historical) tale in an easy and engaging language.

This is a fluently written albeit very short account of one the most fascinating cities in the world. it is a great introduction to Florence and its place in history, and the key people involved in its rise to fame. I loved it. Thank you to the publishers, the author and to Netgalley for the opportunity to access an arc..

This is a very short book which provides a very introductory overview of Florence in the 1400-1500s. At first I thought it was only a sample of the actual book; but it was the whole book - less than 100 pages. After reading it I was left wanting to know more.

A well researched portrait of Florence under the Medici's rule. A concise overview of the city's administration, commerce, diplomatic relations and cultural environment and the rise of one of the most talented families in Renaissance Italy.

Its only drawback: it was too short.

But still, E.R Chamberlin was a talented historian and this book is the perfect introduction to the history of Florence and the Medici.

Many thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for this terrific ARC

Say 'Florence' and to most historians the word that first comes to mind is 'Medici'; and rightfully so. The Medici family controlled Florence for generations, and their descendants are still prominent today. I'm reminded of the older book 'The Rise and Fall of the Medici', but at the same time this book feels fresh and new. Familiar characters, such as Lorenzo the Magnificent, do appear, but Chamberlin benefits from the scholarship taken place since the older book. This would be perfect for casual readers and historians alike. I'll certainly be re-reading this book when I visit Florence next year.

A good book if you want to learn about life in Florence during the Renaissance. It's well researched and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine