A Short History of the Italian Renaissance

A Short History of the Italian Renaissance is Jacob Burckhardt re-engineered for the twenty-first century. Written with verve in a fluent and accessible style and copiously illustrated with lavish color images that bring the pageantry of the era to life, Bartlett revitalizes the Burckhardian classic cultural understanding of the Renaissance while revising it in light of the best recent scholarship. A helpful timeline, tables, and suggested bibliographies make this book arguably the best paper and ink portal available for delving into this fascinating and consequential period. Burckhardt found in the Italian Renaissance a time of tumult and temerity productive of a new and more modern way of life. Teachers seeking to convey that transformative vitality to students can only be grateful to have this book available as their guide. J.B. Shank, Director, Center for Early Modern History, University of Minnesota

Kenneth R. Bartlett took a significant gamble in bringing together the challenging political and cultural events of the entire period. Yet, his book reads like an exciting story and his thirty years of experience as a scholar and teacher prepared him well to present his observations with confidence and clarity to an audience that will include students, scholars, and any reader interested in the Italian Renaissance. Elena Parma, University of Genoa

The fruit of a long career as a professor of the Italian Renaissance, Bartlett's overview considers the Renaissance as a cultural movement in the influential tradition of Jacob Burckhardt. Here, Bartlett explains in a nuanced but lucid manner the unique 'mentality of the age' and adopts effective strategies to hold his audience's attention. Substantial quotations from Renaissance texts in English translation enable students to witness the characteristics of the period. Attractive color illustrations allow readers to explore the importance of Renaissance art and architecture. The suggested readings will bring students closer to the archival research of recent scholars upon which Bartlett's skillful and compelling introduction is predicated. Cathleen Hoeniger, Queen's University