The Renaissance: A Short History

The Renaissance holds an undying place in our imagination, its great heroes still our own, from Michelangelo and Leonardo to Dante and Chaucer. This period of profound evolution in European thought is credited with transforming the West from medieval to modern and producing the most astonishing outpouring of artistic creation the world has ever known. But what was it? In this masterly work, the incomparable Paul Johnson tells us. He explains the economic, technological, and social developments that provide a backdrop to the age's achievements and focuses closely on the lives and works of its most important figures. A commanding short narrative of this vital period, The Renaissance is also a universally profound meditation on the wellsprings of innovation.

Author: Paul Johnson
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 08/06/2002
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.45lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.20w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9780812966190

Review Citation(s):
New York Times 08/18/2002 pg. 20

About the Author
Paul Johnson is a leading historian and journalist whose historical works have been national bestsellers and translated into many languages. Among his books are Modern Times, A History of the Jews, Intellectuals, The Birth of the Modern, and A History of the American People. He lives in London.