Renaissance Lives: Portraits of an Age

by Theodore K. Rabb

A lavishly illustrated companion to the five-part PBS series describes, in detail, the lives of fifteen men and women of the Renaissance--including Catherine de'Medici, Titian, Galileo, Montaigne, and Gentileschi--to present a history of the era. 17,500 first printing. $20,000 ad/promo. TV tie-in.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Renaissance, Art, Biography Memoir, Historical

263 pages, Hardcover

First published January 4, 1993

About the author

A specialist in early modern European history, Theodore K. Rabb was Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Princeton University.

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book can be criticized certainly--based on a tv show, etc. But I thought it was excellent for what it was. Rabb has an interesting selection of people most famous and some not (a Jewish woman merchant, an English vicar). He is naturally limited by the sources. He is able to write the stories of the less famous of his "lives" because they very unusually wrote autobiographies.

[Reece Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written biographies that highlight the humanity of history. Rabb's empathy forces you to realize that these figures were actual people living human lives.

[Chad Haiar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in a thrift store. It was written in the 90s as a companion to a PBS series that I’d never heard of. It’s basically a series of 15 short biographies. Although I initially bought it for the chapters on Montaigne and Catherine de Medici, I ended up reading the whole thing, as it was an easy read, and the lives selected were almost all interesting. Well worth the dollar!

[Francine Apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this twice now. The first time to feed my love of the period and just recently to refresh myself for a chance to share with my womens' circle. It's a great little book!

[Amanda Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of some literary and artistic figures of this era, featuring painters, writers and religious figures.

[Tojuan Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good introduction into Renaissance history and good short bios of about 11 to 19 pages in terms of length. A fine history of the renaissance to read.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biographical view of famous and significant players in the Renaissance era is intrguing and well written.

[David R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book accompanied a PBS series and is concerned with fifteen characters Rabb saw as representative of the Renaissance. While the profiles are fascinating, one objects to the broad timeframe (300 years) and the strange selections. Walter Ralegh? Thomas Platter? I would have preferred a tighter focus.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter is a mini biography. Not all the lives are compelling reading. Good as resource for a history paper.

[Kate]

Tulsa, OK