Kenneth Bartlett is Professor of History and of Renaissance Studies, University of Toronto.

"A brief narrative overview of the mainly political history of Florence to the end of the fifteenth century that also offers an attractive collection of illustrative documents, aimed to engage student interest and discussion." —Melissa Bullard, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Bartlett cuts through the political complexities of fifteenth-century Florence to offer students an engaging and accessible narrative supplemented by a wide range of relevant primary documents. This story of a key turning point in Florentine history continues to have much relevance in our own society." —- Brian J. Maxson, East Tennessee State University

"Bartlett does an excellent job of illustrating events and issues relevant to the historical period. [His introduction] succeeds in placing the history of Renaissance Florence in a broader geographical and chronological context, not only by explaining how the rise of the Medici family was possible but also by illustrating the dynamics that linked the Republic of Florence to other Italian and non-Italian states. . . . The style is very clear, the narrative is effectively structured, and the text, while avoiding oversimplification, is easily accessible. "The brilliant first part [of this book] provides an enjoyable and informative introduction to the subject for English-speaking readers. . . . The sources show how Renaissance Florence's extraordinary historical players, such as Cosimo and Piero de' Medici, Lorenzo the Magnificent, and Girolamo Savonarola, were perceived by their contemporaries. The wide range of different kinds of documents, such as chronicles, letters, diaries, and sermons, is ideal for students who want to get a glimpse of what and how fifteenth-century people used to write." —Stefano Dall'aglio, in Renaissance and Reformation

"Bartlett has pulled together an enormous amount of historical documentation and illumination into a small book, including a tasty selection of source documents and an indispensable glossary. The writing is artfully compact and efficient, not sacrificing a copious amount of detail that discreetly illustrates this colorful story. The book would be ideal for a survey course, students of Florentine history, or anyone wanting a good explanation of complicated issues during this period of enormous artistic expression. It is also recommended for students of political history for its insight into the dynamics of how a people struggle for liberty against existing powers. It would be fair to say that this book may even shed light on some of the current struggles for democracy, given its broad theme of the distribution of wealth and power." —David R. Bass, in Sixteenth Century Journal