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musicalpopcorn's review
3.0
This is an incredibly thorough telling of the world of scribes in 15th century Italy told by following the life of an industrious bookseller, Vespasiano.
This is a detailed description of the Renaissance world that Vespasiano sold his books in. There is so much information packed into the book. I would argue it is perhaps a little too long with too much detail, but the reader does get a really stark picture of Renaissance Italy and the book trade at this time.
Overall the book was readable, but perhaps a bit too long. I learned a lot and enjoyed it, but was definitely ready to move on well before it was done.
This is a detailed description of the Renaissance world that Vespasiano sold his books in. There is so much information packed into the book. I would argue it is perhaps a little too long with too much detail, but the reader does get a really stark picture of Renaissance Italy and the book trade at this time.
Overall the book was readable, but perhaps a bit too long. I learned a lot and enjoyed it, but was definitely ready to move on well before it was done.
indyreadrosa's review
5.0
The last chapters are what bumped this book up to 5 stars. I think the subject wanders a bit in the middle the information is interesting but not quite the focus I wanted.
agrandreflection's review
4.0
Everything I never knew I wanted to know about the history of written language and its golden age in the Renaissance.
King manages to pack an insane amount of information into the pages, while still making the text fun and accessible. There are a few times where information is repeated, but it serves to re-contextualize and remind rather than loop in on itself.
And, it's such a wonderful dive into a lesser-known hero of history. Truly, it seems that Vespassiano might pass Leonardo as my all-time favorite Renaissance man.
King manages to pack an insane amount of information into the pages, while still making the text fun and accessible. There are a few times where information is repeated, but it serves to re-contextualize and remind rather than loop in on itself.
And, it's such a wonderful dive into a lesser-known hero of history. Truly, it seems that Vespassiano might pass Leonardo as my all-time favorite Renaissance man.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘The Street of Booksellers, Via dei Librai, ran through the heart of Florence, midway between the town hall to the south, and the cathedral to the north.’
A discussion of the origins of writing, the materials written on, some of the great writers and the collection of manuscripts into libraries is how Mr Smith begins his narrative. And once the scene is set, we move to the Via dei Librai in Florence. It is here, in 1433 that Vespasiano da Bisticci (1421-1498) started work in the bookshop of Michele Guarducci. By the 1440s, the bookshop had become a gathering place, where philosophical and literary discussions took place. Many distinguished scholars came from Constantinople. Vespasiano da Bisticci was keen to learn, and 15th century Florence was the perfect place: magnificent libraries were being built, manuscripts were being sourced and copied for wealthy clients. Vespasiano and his team of scribes and illuminators produced exquisite manuscripts for many important people across Europe.
‘All evil is born from ignorance,’ as Vespasiano wrote. ‘Yet writers have illuminated the world, chasing away the darkness.’
But the age of illuminated hand-written manuscripts was ending. In 1476 a printing press was set up in Florence. The Convent of San Jacopo di Ripoli, a community of Dominican nuns, acquired a printing press and began producing books and pamphlets.
‘Vespasiano occupied a tenuous and unenviable position, straddling as he did two different technologies.’
Vespasiano lived in Florence when the Medici family were in power. This book is the story of his career, the story of bookmaking and a history of Florence during the 15th century.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of books and 15th century Florence.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A discussion of the origins of writing, the materials written on, some of the great writers and the collection of manuscripts into libraries is how Mr Smith begins his narrative. And once the scene is set, we move to the Via dei Librai in Florence. It is here, in 1433 that Vespasiano da Bisticci (1421-1498) started work in the bookshop of Michele Guarducci. By the 1440s, the bookshop had become a gathering place, where philosophical and literary discussions took place. Many distinguished scholars came from Constantinople. Vespasiano da Bisticci was keen to learn, and 15th century Florence was the perfect place: magnificent libraries were being built, manuscripts were being sourced and copied for wealthy clients. Vespasiano and his team of scribes and illuminators produced exquisite manuscripts for many important people across Europe.
‘All evil is born from ignorance,’ as Vespasiano wrote. ‘Yet writers have illuminated the world, chasing away the darkness.’
But the age of illuminated hand-written manuscripts was ending. In 1476 a printing press was set up in Florence. The Convent of San Jacopo di Ripoli, a community of Dominican nuns, acquired a printing press and began producing books and pamphlets.
‘Vespasiano occupied a tenuous and unenviable position, straddling as he did two different technologies.’
Vespasiano lived in Florence when the Medici family were in power. This book is the story of his career, the story of bookmaking and a history of Florence during the 15th century.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of books and 15th century Florence.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
dankolar's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
“In May 1468 [Cardinal] Bessarion wrote a letter to the doge, Cristoforo Moro, justifying his gift [of his entire manuscript collection to the library of the Basilica of San Marco] with an eloquent plea for learning. He pointed out that ‘there is no more worthy or honorable possession, no more dignified and valuable treasure,’ than a book. ‘They live, they converse and speak with us, they teach us, educate us, console us,’ he wrote. Books bring the past to life and place it before our eyes, they offer examples to emulate, they tell us of things both human and divine.“
TITLE—The Bookseller of Florence
AUTHOR—Ross King
PUBLISHED—2021
PUBLISHER—Chatto & Windus, an imprint of Vintage // Penguin Random House (UK)
GENRE—literary nonfiction
SETTING—Europe & the Near East, mid- to late-1400s CE
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—the life & work of Vespasiano da Bisticci, history of bookbinding & bookmaking, book production in the mid to late 15th c. CE in Europe, illuminated manuscripts of the Renaissance, early modern printing, monastery & private libraries, Popes & the Vatican, warrior lords of Italy and the Mediterranean, Byzantine scriptoria, major Renaissance cities: Constantinople, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples & others, the invention of the printing press in Germany and its dissemination into Italy, the Medici—their politics & intrigue, Mehmed the Conqueror, King Alfonso (who kept giving me big Stede Bonnet vibes 🤣), Duke & other historical figures from the age, the role of women in Italian Renaissance society (brief glimpses, but even King’s brief treatment & insight made me want to learn more), major Classical authors: Plato, Aristotle, Cicero & others
WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DEPICTION of historical figures—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NARRATIVE FLOW—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BONUS ELEMENT/S—This was the ultimate book- & history-nerd read.
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“To the usual implements of warfare—battle axes, swords, lances, and cannons—a deadly new weapon, the printed word, had suddenly been added. The older weapons were still serviceable, of course, and they would ultimately settle the dispute.”
This book had kind of a dark academia vibe to it but also a definite Game of Thrones vibe to it as well and all of the historical information from the technological processes of manuscript production, illumination, the printing press, and the design and composition of various historical libraries to the discussion of various political intrigues, scandals, and conspiracies kept me very engaged in what was really an incredibly informative and academic piece of literary nonfiction.
King’s narrative voice was excellent. Reading every chapter felt like I was listening to a really dynamic professor giving a lecture on only the most interesting elements of the Italian Renaissance. He digresses into other relevant areas of information such as the history of the Byzantine scriptoriums responsible for preserving the majority of classical literature to the development of the printing press in Germany. I literally could have read 1,000 pages of this book.
Anyway, completely obsessed. This book was everything I had hoped it would be. Took me ages to read and I was still sad when it was over. Definitely going to be rereading. What’s next from King??
“The speed with which books could be produced, the quantity of them, and their relative cheapness in comparison to manuscripts—all of these things meant, they believed, that knowledge could spread far and fast, with everyone, even the poor, able to own libraries. Darkness would be dispelled and there would come, a friar would write in 1476, salutem in medio terre—salvation on earth.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW // poisoning, fratricide, plague, violence/gore (Please feel free to DM me for more specifics!)
Further Reading—
- Map of Knowledge, by Violet Moller
- The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco
- Brunelleschi’s Dome, by Ross King—I read this in high school and remember loving it
- A World Lit Only By Fire, by William Manchester—Another one I read in high school. I remember it being a bit controversial to have been assigned to an AP Euro History class but 🤷🏻♀️ I could be misremembering… I remember enjoying it though and I think I’d like to get the illustrated edition I saw at a bookshop recently and re-read it soonish…
- Ex-Libris, by Ross King—TBR—one of King’s fiction novels! Actually has kind of bad ratings but based on what ppl say it sounds like I’d love it so definitely going to give it a try
ladyvictoriadiana's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely lovely and a must for all booklovers! King uses the life of Vespasiano as a guide to take you on a journey through Renaissance Florence and the changing world of producing books. I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read with many, many interesting topics being touched upon.
Also, the book itself looks absolutely stunning.
Also, the book itself looks absolutely stunning.