books:

	• The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo Irving Stone NAL Trade, 2004 - 784 pages average customer review:based on 115 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Being an aspiring art history buff, I was taking a sculpture class while reading this book, which is both a curse and a blessing, wanting to love it as much as he did but finding it difficult as a beginner.

Another side I enjoyed was the love affair he had with the Medici family, most importantly Lorenzo and Contessina. Heartbreaking to say the least!

for more information click here

Stunning, I didn't want it to end

This book had me hooked from the first page. Stone's descriptions of the cities, artists and their works made me feel like I was in Italy again - walking the stone streets of Florence, gazing up at The David, craning my neck at the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Rome. The book made me want to go back and visit all these things again, with renewed appreciation for the intense passion that went into each one, and the politics around them. Stone gave Michelangelo a face and personna that you can't get from museum and history book descriptions. As I read this book I would continually follow along by looking up pictures of the works, cities, streets, and buildings the artist would visit and some of the history around the Popes and other artists of the era - for more context. The book was much more wonderful than I had anticipated and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Italian Renaissance and/or Michelangelo's work - Magnifico!

for more information click here

for more information click here

An enchanted journey into Renaissance Italy

As a high school senior, I chose this book for a simple report. I eagerly devoured it over Christmas break, trapped inside by inclement weather.
Stone's character development is exemplary; even during Michelangelo's adolescence in the progression of the book I felt as though I knew the artist intimately. The author provides excellent, relatively-concise descriptions of Michelangelo's various artworks throughout, never lingering too long on one aspect. Stone provides just as much description to the Apostles as he does the more-famous David. Though parts of the novel do become a bit repetitious after 700 pages of reading; I found it to be thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. Stone did an excellent job balancing Michelangelo's personal and public lives, though the two were often closely intertwined.
Though it is easy to lose count of various supporting roles (especially the numerous popes of the period) without careful attention, when this book is read as a serious literary work and not a fluff piece for perusing on an airplane it is quite exciting and anything but boring.
A bit heavy for the less-than-precocious student, but a fine read for most educated adults or studious teens such as myself.

for more information click here

hot

or

not?

What's your opinion?     Write a review and share your thoughts!