The Renaissance

A History of Civilization in Italy from 1304 - 1576 AD, The Story of Civilization, Volume 5

By: Will Durant

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 37 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

An engrossing volume on the Italian Renaissance by Pulitzer Prize - winning historian Will Durant

The fifth volume of Durant's acclaimed Story of Civilization,The Renaissance chronicles the history of Italy from1304 to 1576. In this masterful work, listeners will encounter

• the poets Petrarch and Boccaccio, the fathers ofthe Renaissance;
• the paintings, sculptures, and architecture ofMilan, Florence, and Venice;
• the life and accomplishments of Leonardo DaVinci;
• the Catholic church and the popes of Avignon and Rome;
• the politicians and philosophers of Italy,including the Borgia family, Julius II, and Machiavelli;
• the Italian Wars, the conflicts with France, and the country's decline.

©2014 Will Durant (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc

Worth every minute

I bought this book before my 3rd trip to Italy. I honestly thought I'd only listen to some of it. I listened to the entire 35 hours and learned more than I've learned from any book since college. I listened to many chapters twice so I could retain the information or synthesize what I was learning with what I already knew. The reader is excellent and the writing is thoughtful, analytical but also surprisingly entertaining. Anyone who loves history and wants to get a grand overview of this remarkable time in history should read this book.

Fascinating Journey through the Renaissance

I’m so happy to have found Will Durant’s series on the history of civilization. This volume recounts the events of the Renaiissance from Leonardo to Michelangelo and the transformation of Europe through the 14th to 16th Centuries. This aeries turns my commutes into a virtual lecture hall. Thanks, Audible!

Another perfect classic

The best so far in the series. Durant puts together another literary masterpiece. He and Ariel are among the titans of civilization that he writes about. Volume 5 is a work of art like the statue of David, the Mona lisa, the school of Athens.

Great addition to the series

I did not expect much from this volume which made this one extra special. There is so much here that touches the soul and informs what it means to be human, chiefly, with the development of humanism, contrasted against some of the most vicious and dark periods in human history. The people that are covered are magnificent, the political and spiritual battles fought in the hearts and minds and hands of the people are on par with ancient Greece and ancient Rome. The context for the national union of the Italian kingdoms into an Italian state is heartbreaking. During the period of the Renaissance, civilization was being built anew. Notable achievements covered are the formation of modern European culture, religion, decency, etiquette, art, science, and medicine.

Superlative work

This is an astonishing work. Wil Durant delivers the Renaissance in satisfying and surprising depth, breadth. I learned so much listening to this book. Kudos to the author, his team and the reader.

A Gem Filled with Detail but Dated!

Will Durant, the man who put Simon & Schuster on the map, delivers the most researched account of the Renaissance I've read. He dives into the details of the famous tales of the time with facts and background I've never heard.

The down side was Durant's unobjective treatment of homosexuality that prevailed the 14th and 15th centuries in Italy. He is also the harshest art critic I've ever heard (which was refreshing).

He didn't stumble over himself with fawning praise of the giants like Michelangelo. In fact, the author pointed out imperfections in the "perfect" Pieta and David works.

But, please, did his editors not catch his use of "Michael" and "Angelo" when referring to Michelangelo? The man's name is Michelangelo Buonarroti! Not Michael Angelo. Urgh!!!

Overall a great book!

I’m in Italy now and am really glad I listened to this it has enhanced my trip considerably.

I’m in Italy now and am really glad I listened to this, it has enhanced my trip considerably.

Fantastic!

I am amazed at the amount of information Will Durant beautifully transmits in this volume. Nearly three centuries of Italian history is wonderfully described with the transformation of art through painting and sculpture, almost always requested by the heads of the Roman Catholic church! And the political masterminding of this era is amazing. Grover Gardner did a wonderful job with this narration, speaking in other languages (and reciting interpretations as the book gives), with amazing clarity. I can't wait to read his next narrative in this volume!

Grover Gardner narrates beautifully

The Story Of Civilization is a wonderful work by the Durants and Grover Gardner's reading of it is an achievement. I only wish Audible would work to get the rest of the volumes with his narration as well. currently Audible only has a bout four of the volumes narrated by him while the others are done by readers much less suited to the majesty of the work.

A lively, art-centric, look at all things Italian.

A lively, art-centric, look at all things Italian.

Durant's mammoth "Story of Civilization" series continues with the fifth volume "The Renaissance." The title is a bit of a misnomer insofar as it ONLY covers the Italian Renaissance from the early 14th-16th centuries. The sixth volume "The Reformation" covers the rest of Europe. That being said, this is very enjoyable, detailed, and empassioned look at one of the most dynamic and productive eras and areas in human history.

Durant's approach of synthesizing everything into a single "story of civilization" remains as compelling as ever and is mostly a function of Durant's skills as a writer. As such, we get detailed survey histories of Renaissance Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples et al filled with energetic prose that is both insightful and often amusing/snide. Because this is the Renaissance, art plays a major role in the narrative and Durant's best and most vivid writing is about the artistic accomplishments of the age. Be it Michaelangelo, Raphael, or da Vinci -- Durant's lens is focused the most sharply on the sublime and reflects his most passionate writing.

For a reader not immediately familiar with the pieces Durant is discussing, this flowery language sometimes feels overwrought and a bit like listening to a wine aficionado describing all the tasting notes in a particular vintage. The reader feels like Thomas Hayden Church's character in the film "Sideways" listening to Paul Giamatti's character wax poetic about a glass of wine to which Church's character, not having a clue, responds with: "Wow. Strawberries, yeah! Strawberries. Not the cheese..." -- I'll take Durant's word for it most of the time.

While Durant's approach requires him to talk about everything, it's clear he has the least interest in the martial or even political. Durant has little interest in marching armies or political backbiting (even though Machiavelli gets a well executed extended look) and his writing is the least interesting when Durant has to wallow in the mud of warfare. Otherwise, "The Renaissance" has Popes and anti-popes and Medicis and Borgias come and go throughout the narrative and through it all, the conflict between the classical paganism that the Renaissance reignited and the Catholic divine these new styles and approaches were meant to glorify remains a consistent theme.

Observant, witty, and thoroughly enjoyable. "...[but] not the cheese."