A fascinating and counterintuitive portrait of the sordid; hidden world behind the dazzling artwork of Michelangelo; Leonardo da Vinci; Botticelli; and more Renowned as a period of cultural rebirth and artistic innovation; the Renaissance is cloaked in a unique aura of beauty and brilliance. Its very name conjures up awe-inspiring images of an age of lofty ideals in which life imitated the fantastic artworks for which it has become famous. But behind the vast explosion of new art and culture lurked a seamy; vicious world of power politics; perversity; and corruption that has more in common with the present day than anyone dares to admit.In this lively and meticulously researched portrait; Renaissance scholar Alexander Lee illuminates the dark and titillating contradictions that were hidden beneath the surface of the periodrsquo;s best-known artworks. Rife with tales of scheming bankers; greedy politicians; sex-crazed priests; bloody rivalries; vicious intolerance; rampant disease; and lives of extravagance and excess; this gripping exploration of the underbelly of Renaissance Italy shows that; far from being the product of high-minded ideals; the sublime monuments of the Renaissance were created by flawed and tormented artists who lived in an ever-expanding world of inequality; dark sexuality; bigotry; and hatred.The Ugly Renaissance is a delightfully debauched journey through the surprising contradictions of Italyrsquo;s past and shows that were it not for the profusion of depravity and degradation; historyrsquo;s greatest masterpieces might never have come into being. From the Hardcover edition.
#3202750 in eBooks 2013-10-17 2013-10-17File Name: B00FYXH79K
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great book if you feel the need to understand Swedish literatureBy James C. CasterlineThis is one recommended by the 1001 books to read before you die book. It is a classic which is supposed to be the first modern Swedish novel. I dont know much about Swedish writing. It is also supposed to be a satire on Swedish society. It does describe a change in life of a young man. The red room is where he and friends discuss and attempt to understand duplicity and corruption of life. This is a significant work and made Strindberg a success. I didnt appreciate it as much as I should; I am not a serious student. This is not great entertainment as far as I am concerned but the book is worthwhile if you are up to it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Bad publicationBy Mr.WrightTheres words and punctuation missing. And the lines are messed up.7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Somewhat disappointingBy Wendy WillowbyCompared to some of Strindbergs other work; I was disappointed by this; his supposedly most famous novel. Reminds me of a Dostoyevsky without the religious mania or obsession with suffering...this book is too humorous and too sad while somehow not really being sad enough to take itself seriously...meaning; bad things happen to the characters but we are not moved to pity them.The book flirts with nihilism; but again; it fails to take that issue seriously enough either. Despite its 600 pages; I feel like the 100 pages of the "Good Parts" are actually missing or censored. Imagine taking all the famous speeches out of Dostoyevskys possessed....thats what this book seems like.While youre here; I recommend August Strindbergs "Inferno" which he wrote later in life. Although quite short; I found it to be both breathtaking and nightmarish...the neurosis and paranoid mania of the main character is almost too real...in fact; it seems autobiographical. If you ignore the content of the characters delusions and just count them as delusions its quite frightening...but since the characters delusions are so strange we can understand why "Inferno" his not a very talked about book...but I would give it 5 stars easily.