Enthralling Read

A really enthralling read full of historical facts about Renaissance Italy, the big split in the Roman Catholic Church, the introduction of printed books, the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, Savanarola's pyramids of book burnings and the wonderful references to the Greeks and the Romans. The author's style is entertaining and at times amusing, holding my attention throughout the book. I learned so much!
The novel takes us through the life of Vespasiano as he grows to be recognized as the king of the world's booksellers. Florence's bankers and wool merchants brought untold wealth into the city and that abundance encouraged magnificent architecture, sculpture, painting and literature. Vespasiano's skill lay in seeking out the original manuscripts written by the ancient Greeks and Romans and then creating his own beautifully adorned copies for his rich clients throughout Italy. We learned that he had to be very careful how he handled his clients because Italy in those days was full of warring parties jostling for power. At times his bookshop became known as "a political nexus, a listening post for the subversive and the disaffected."

As printed books became more popular throughout Italy, demand for Vespasiano's skilled craftsmanship began to wane. In 1480 he retired and moved away from his beloved city. The author includes a great quote from Vespasiano that is still relevant today - "All evil is born from ignorance; yet writers have illuminated the world, chasing away the darkness."

The Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts That Illuminated the Renaissance