#31: The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy by Jacob Burckhardt

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100 books, book review, books, classics, history, Italy

After the excitement of my Jeopardy! appearance last week and a few days without my laptop (thanks to a defective power cord), I finally return to the actual mission of this blog– reading.  I am playing catch up a bit, as I finished number thirty-one last Thursday.  After a string of novels I decided to go for something more academic.  I settled on Jacob Burckhardt’s seminal work of history, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy.

Burckhardt’s Civilization of the Renaissance is a watershed moment in the treatment of the Renaissance.  Earlier books about this period tended to focus on the great individuals.  Burckhardt changed that by presenting a work of cultural history.  Rather than focusing on specific individuals and their deeds, he focused on cultural trends and societal developments.  The result is both informative and engaging.  Burckhardt explores the Italian Renaissance in a systematic way, considering the development of the state, the individual, the revival of antiquity, advances in science and literature, secular society, and the changing nature and role of religion.  Although more recent books include more depth in certain areas (particularly economics), Burckhardt remains the standard.  What Edward Gibbon is to the end of the Roman Empire, Burckhardt is to the Italian Renaissance.

The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy is a tremendously informative book.  Burckhardt presents a wealth of information to be consumed by the willing reader.  I learned a great deal and enjoyed the book very much.  That said, there are a few cautionary words I should offer.  First, go into this book prepared to look up various historical figures and facts.  Burckhardt assumes a certain depth of knowledge regarding the Italian Renaissance, and the uninformed reader can get confused.  Despite being reasonably well-studied in this era, I found it necessary to look up many things as i read.  Second, the translation used in my edition (the Modern Library edition from 2002) and every other English edition I can find is that of S.G.C. Middlemore from 1878.  While the book is very engaging, the translation is rendered in Victorian English and comes across a bit stilted at times.  A modern translation would be a welcome gift from the literary gods.  Even with these two caveats, I would highly recommend this book to any individual interested in the Italian Renaissance.  It was an era that continues to exert an influence on our own and is well worth studying.

The Current Count

31 Read, 69 To Go

#8: Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling by Ross King

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100 books, art, book review, books, history, Michelangelo

The celebrated German writer Goethe once said that “Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.”  Michelangelo Buonarroti’s fresco cycle on the Sistine ceiling is an accomplishment that transcends the artistic.  It is a landmark achievement that has become deeply embedded in the fabric of Western culture.  Many of the individual elements of the frescoes have become celebrated works of art in their own rights.  The ceiling as a whole is a staggering example of Michelangelo’s talent and willpower.  In honor of Michelangelo’s 537th birthday this past Tuesday, I decided to read a book about my favorite artist (and my favorite ninja turtle).

Ross King’s Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling tells the story of how Michelangelo, renowned as a sculptural genius but inexperienced as a frescoist, came to paint the single greatest artwork ever created.  It features a cast of characters that includes the warrior-pope Julius II, artistic greats Leonardo and Raphael, and a host of priests, kings, and noblemen.  King’s writing is entertaining and the book is well researched.  It very clearly relies more on the scholarship of others than that of the author, but King weaves all of the various elements of the story together in a highly engaging manner.  The book is a popular history rather than an academic one and should be judged accordingly.  As a popular history, this book excels. 

Ultimately, the star of the book is Michelangelo.  His accomplishments in the Sistine Chapel are simply incredible.  Add to that his various sculptural, architechtural, and pictoral works, and you have greatest artist of all time.  King’s book destroys the romantic image of a solitary Michelangelo slaving away on his back (he had a team of assistants and was able to stand while painting), but the real story is even more interesting.  I have read quite a few books on Michelangelo (both academic and popular), and King’s is one of the most entertaining.  If you have an academic interest in Michelangelo, there are more thorough treatments, but for the amateur enthusiast King’s book is an excellent choice.

The Current Count:

8 Read, 92 To Go

#4: The Mauritius Command by Patrick O’Brian

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100 books, book review, books, history, literature, Patrick O'Brian

Last night I finished my fourth book of the year, which also happens to be the fourth book of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series.  The Mauritius Command opens with Jack Aubrey ashore, beset by domestic cares at his cottage, where he lives with his wife, infant twin daughters, mother-in-law, and toddler niece.  Stephen Maturin arrives with news that Jack is to take command of the HMS Boadicea and lead a squadron in the attempted capture of French-held islands Mauritius and La Reunion in the Indian Ocean.  The French have recently added four large frigates to their forces on the islands, making the task extremely difficult.

Jack accepts the command with enthusiasm and sets sail in his new ship for the Cape.  With the full support of the Admiral of the Cape station, Jack hoists his pendant as a Commodore and proceeds to the islands.  His plans are successful (with the aid of Stephen’s intelligence work) and La Reunion is captured.  Unfortunately, various setbacks delay the attempt on Mauritius.  Just as the situation is again in hand, the Admiral arrives and supersedes Jack, claiming all of the glory after Jack’s hard work.  This tremendous blow is offset by the news that Jack’s wife has given birth to a son.

As with all of the Aubrey/Maturin books, The Mauritius Command is a highly entertaining read.  O’Brian’s use of the logs from real battles lends an authenticity to the narrative that heightens the excitement.  By the fourth book, the reader comes to see the cast of characters as old friends, but O’Brian manages to keep them vibrant and interesting.  Patrick O’Brian is perhaps the greatest author of historical fiction ever to put pen to paper.

The Current Count

4 Read, 96 To Go

#72: HMS Surprise by Patrick O’Brian

Tags

100 books, book review, books, history, literature

I am back from vacation and have several reviews to post.  In order to get them all in before the end of the year, these reviews will be shorter than usual.  The first of my holiday reads was Patrick O’Brian’s HMS Surprise.

HMS Surprise picks up where Post Captain left off, with Jack Aubrey having been part of a squadron that captured four Spanish vessels laden with gold from the New World.  Unfortunately, a legal technicality sends the money to the King’s treasury rather than to the captains.  The same meeting that decides this also inadvertently reveals Stephen Maturin’s role as a spy.  He is captured on a mission in Spanish territory as a result, but Jack leads a daring rescue.  Upon returning to England,  Jack is arrested for debt but is released shortly thereafter when Stephen Maturin negotiates an advance on Jack’s smaller reward for the Spanish vessels.  Jack is given the command of the titular HMS Surprise, with the mission of delivering an envoy of the King to an island off the coast of India.  The envoy dies en route, Stephen is wounded in a duel, and Jack begins the long voyage home.  Along the way, he helps the British East India Company’s convoy fight off an attack by a French squadron, earning their gratitude and a generous financial reward.  This clears him of debt and sets the stage for his marriage to Sophia Williams.

I enjoyed this novel as much as the others in the Aubrey/Maturin series.  O’Brian depicts the life of a sailor in the Napoleonic era with realism and sincerity.  His action is exciting and his prose is incredibly vibrant.  It is difficult to offer specific praise or criticism of the individual novels in this series because the larger epic is constantly in mind.  That said, this is a book that is thoroughly enjoyable as an individual work. 

The Current Count:

72 Read, 28 To Go

#70: Post Captain by Patrick O’Brian

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100 books, book review, books, history, literature

After finishing Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander a few days ago, I couldn’t resist moving on to the next book in the series.  Post Captain begins with the establishment of the Peace of Amiens, bringing a close to the French Revolutionary Wars.  Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, now well-off thanks to the prize money won on their Mediterranean cruise, set up a bachelor’s residence at Melbury Lodge.  They soon make the acquaintance of the Williams family, most notably Sophie Williams and her widowed cousin Diana Villiers.  Both women are beautiful and both view Jack as a potential husband.  Jack and Sophie begin a tentative courtship, and Stephen begins falling for Diana.  Unfortunately, Jack’s prize agent runs away with his money and Aubrey is forced to repay the bounty he received for a neutral ship he had captured.  This sudden financial turn leaves him in danger of arrest for debt and disrupts his budding relationship with Sophie due to her mother’s unwillingness to marry her to a financially insolvent man.  In order to avoid debtor’s prison, Jack and Stephen travel to France.  Shortly after their arrival on the continent, war is resumed and the two must escape before being captured by Napoleon’s troops. 

After a harrowing journey that includes capture by a French privateer and recapture by a British squadron, the two arrive back in England.  Jack begs for any ship that will keep him employed and away from the threat of debtor’s prison.  His request is granted with the HMS Polychrest, an experimental vessel known around the Royal Navy as ‘The Carpenter’s Mistake’.  The vessel is ungainly, the crew is undermanned and poorly trained, and his first lieutenant is barbaric in his punishments of the crew.  This combines to make an unhappy situation for Jack.  In addition to his naval problems, Jack begins an affair with Diana (thinking that his prospects with Sophie have been sunk).  This leads to a rift between Jack and Stephen, and Jack soon develops a reputation for lingering in port to spend time with his mistress.  At the urging of another captain, Stephen attempts to point this reputation out to Jack.  Tempers flare and the two former friends agree to a duel.  The Polychrest is ordered to attack a small flotilla of vessels in a French port before the issue can be settled, and sets sail.  The unruly crew has now grown mutinous, and approaches Maturin for his aid.  He immediately informs Jack, breaking the silence between them since their argument.  Jack quashes the mutiny and attacks the port sooner than planned in order to occupy the crew.  The Polychrest runs aground during the attack, but Jack captures a French cutter and tows his ship to safety.  Soon after, the wounded Polychrest founders and sinks.  Jack and his crew return to England in the captured cutter and receive a warm reception.  Jack and Stephen forget their former animosity and renew their friendship.

Jack is promoted to post captain for his exploits, putting him on the track for eventual promotion to admiral.  He is offered a brand new ship currently being built, ready to put to sea in six months.  His financial situation forces him to decline this offer, however, and he requests any assignment that will take him out to sea.  He is assigned to temporary command of the HMS Lively, whose captain is attending Parliament.  Jack meets with Sophie, and they agree not to marry anyone else, but to wait until Jack’s finances are on a secure footing.  Meanwhile, Stephen has been active as an intelligence agent in Spain.  He discovers that Spain is planning to enter the war on France’s side as soon as a large shipment of gold arrives from America.  The Admiralty dispatches vessels to intercept the treasure ship, and Stephen requests that the Lively be among them.  The book concludes with the capture of the Spanish treasure, promising a huge financial prize for Jack and his crew.

Needless to say, I love this book.  This is the third time that I have read it and it is still as exciting and engaging as it was the first time.  O’Brian is a master of building action and commands the English language like few other authors (there is a terrible pun buried in that sentence).  Despite being roughly 500 pages long, Post Captain is a quick read.  It is inhabited by a cast of characters that all seem real.  Even the minor characters are endowed with personality traits that make them unforgettable.  Unlike many examples of historical fiction, the Aubrey/Maturin Novels are wonderful literary achievements in their own right.  Read them!

The Current Count

70 Read, 30 To Go

#69: Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian

Tags

100 books, book review, books, history, literature, movies

Here is a little known fact about me: For as long as I can remember, I have harbored a secret desire to be a sailor.  Not in today’s Navy.  I want to be a sailor in the early 1800’s, when a sailor was called that because his ship actually had sails.  You might have noticed that I am a tad unusual.  Another unusual fact: I have a man-crush on Russell Crowe.  I don’t know why, but I love the guy.  In 2003 those two facts about me collided in one glorious cinematic production entitled “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”.  I love that movie like few others.  It is one of three that remain in my five disc DVD changer (the others are “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Gladiator”).

The movie “Master and Commander” is based on several books in a series of twenty novels by Patrick O’Brian.  I read the first few books in college but had little hope of acquiring all twenty until in 2007 my dear sweet mother gave me one of my all-time favorite Christmas gifts: The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels.  The first novel in the series is (not surprisingly) Master and Commander.  This book introduces the reader to Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and Dr. Stephen Maturin.  Aubrey is a young officer seeking advancement through the ranks of the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars.  He receives a promotion to Master and Commander, in command of his own ship.  He recruits the indigent Dr. Maturin as ship’s surgeon and the two develop a close friendship.  Aubrey leads his small sloop, the fourteen-gun Sophie on a cruise along the Spanish coast, wreaking havoc on the coastal trade and earning a reputation for luck in taking prizes.

This success makes Aubrey a target for the Spanish Navy, which assigns a 32-gun xebec frigate the task of capturing the nuisance.  When the two ships cross paths, Aubrey manages to lead the Sophie to victory and capture the much larger Spanish vessel.  Unfortunately, Aubrey’s success with the wife of the Commandant of his home port robs him of the glory and promotion that should accompany his impressive victory.  Instead, Aubrey and the Sophie are given orders to escort a slow vessel carrying mail.  Along the way, the Sophie is captured by a French squadron and Aubrey and Maturin taken prisoner.  They are paroled, but miss out on participating in the Battle of Algeciras.  The book closes with Aubrey being cleared of any fault in the loss of his vessel and being returned to active duty.

I cannot say enough how much I love Master and Commander.  It is thoroughly enjoyable as a single novel, and introduces one of the greatest literary series ever written.  O’Brian evokes the atmosphere of the Napoleonic wars with a vividness and authenticity that is incredible.  His mastery of naval jargon is impressive, and the reader is instantly hooked.  I am admittedly a huge nerd, but when I read O’Brian’s writing, I find my inner voice narrating my own life with the accent and vocabulary of a British sailor.  If you enjoy historical fiction that is action-packed and wonderfully written, read Master and Commander.

The Current Count:

69 Read, 31 To Go

Page to Screen: Lawrence of Arabia

Tags

Arabia, book review, books, history, Lawrence of Arabia, movies

Today I inaugurate a new series– Page to Screen.  In these posts I will look at classic books that have been made into movies and cinematic masterworks that began as books.  For the first installment, I have selected one of my all time favorite movies– Lawrence of Arabia.

The Background 

Thomas Edward Lawrence began World War I as a minor officer assigned to the British Army staff at Cairo.  Due to his expert knowledge of Arabian language and culture, Lawrence was assigned as an adviser to the Arab uprising against the Turkish Empire led by Emir Feisal, a son of the Sherif of Mecca.  Although under Feisal’s nominal command, Lawrence was the operational leader of the revolt.  Under his guidance, the Arabs successfully waged a wide-ranging guerilla campaign against the Turks.  Lawrence eventually led the Arabs in the capture of Damascus.  An ambitious American journalist publicized Lawrence’s exploits, making him a hero celebrated around the world.

The Movie

Few films have achieved the popular and critical acclaim enjoyed by Lawrence of Arabia.  The American Film Institute listed Lawrence as the #5 film of all time on its 1998 100 Years… 100 Movies list, and at #7 on the 2007 list.  This movie is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest cinematic productions of all time, and deservedly so.  David Lean’s direction manages to convey both the underlying desperation of the Arab revolt and the dynamic relationships between the main characters built on bravado in the face of that desperation.  Some directors are too heavy-handed with their actors, leading to films that seem less than natural.  Lean avoids this pitfall and the result is marvelous.  He is helped in this regard by a truly incredible cast.

Peter O’Toole

Peter O’Toole is phenomenal as the complicated Lawrence.  His Lawrence is charming and intelligent, bold and courageous on the one hand, while painfully lonely and uncertain about his abilities on the other.  O’Toole portrays a real man in all of his complexity rather than a heroic caricature.  The other actors are equally wonderful.  Omar Sharif is the handsome and earnest Sherif Ali, while Anthony Quinn is the combative and rugged Auda abu Tayi.  Both performances rank among the all-time greats.  Again we see real people on the screen where lesser actors would have offered mere character sketches.  Finally, Alec Guinness as Prince Feisal brings a dignity and gravitas to a role that could have been forgettable in less capable hands. 

The cinematography and the score push the movie into the cinematic elite.  The film is visually stunning, with the camera work highlighting the desolate beauty of the desert landscape.  Maurice Jarre’s score adds to the emotional impact without distracting from those stunning visuals.  The soundtrack has a signature melody that is instantly recognizable.  The script simplifies and combines many of the historical characters and events involved, but perfectly captures the spirit of Lawrence and his enterprise.

To be fair, this movie is very long and moves slowly at times.  If you aren’t the type to appreciate long, artistic landscape shots to set the scene for later action, you will want the remote nearby to fast forward through a few sections.  That said, SEE THIS MOVIE!!!  It is everything that a historical epic should be, and few other movies come close.

The Book

Compared to the tremendous popularity of the film, the book behind the movie is relatively unknown.  T.E. Lawrence was encouraged by many friends and admirers to write his own account of the Arab uprising against the Turks.  The result was Seven Pillars of Wisdom.  This book is one of the most remarkable pieces of writing that I have ever encountered.  Part history and part autobiography.  Part novel and part philosophical treatise.  Part anthropological study and part guerilla warfare handbook.  Part travel guide and part confession.  This book is as complicated as its author.

Lawrence has a wonderful gift for capturing landscapes and personalities but is often extremely verbose.  The result is a captivating book that is very, very long and very, very detailed.  If you think the long desert shots in the movie were tiresome, try reading fifty pages describing those same scenes.  The prose is beautiful and the descriptions are evocative.  The problem is that Lawrence describes every journey in this detail, and every lava formation, and every canyon.  The action scenes are better, with Lawrence conveying the emotions that accompanied his various triumphs and setbacks with sincerity and grace.  His cultural analysis of the Arabs and their various religious and tribal associations is insightful and useful reading in a world so focused on Middle Eastern tensions. 

The downside to this book is its length.  At nearly 700 very large pages, it is quite an undertaking.  Lawrence’s writing is not conducive to burning through the pages.  Ultimately, I would recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in Lawrence or Arabia in general, but not if you are looking for a casual read.  The abridged Revolt in the Desert would be a better idea for the casual reader.  If you do choose to read this book, try to find an old copy.  The newer paperback editions are fine, but the old hardback has a heft to it that seems appropriate to the subject.  The text is accompanied by some great illustrations that really add to the reading experience.  My own worn copy is pictured above, and it is one of my favorite old books.

My Pick: The Movie

In the end, I would have to choose the movie over the book.  I loved reading Lawrence’s account, but it took me over a month to get through it.  The movie is truly a masterpiece.  The directing, the acting, and the cinematography are unbelievable.  If you have never seen it, rent it today!

#53: Greek Lives by Plutarch

Tags

100 books, book review, books, classics, history, literature

It has been a hectic few weeks, with returning to work and welcoming students back to school, but I have finally finished another book.  The Oxford World’s Classics edition of Plutarch’s Greek Lives contains a selection of nine lives ranging from the ancient lawgivers Lycurgus and Solon to the inimitable Alexander.  Plutarch’s aim is not careful history, but moral biography.  He focuses less on the great events in the lives of these men and more on anecdotes that illustrate their character.  Plutarch has a remarkable talent as a storyteller.  His lives are captivating and informative, containing historical gems that have not survived from any other sources.  Although he wrote in the late first and early second centuries, he relies on many sources contemporary to his subjects.  Many of these eminent ancients have faded from the common memory.  Plutarch’s works serve to preserve the examples of these men for future generations.  I particularly enjoyed the lives of Alcibiades and Alexander.  My only caution about this book is that it can take a bit to get into, especially when you are trying to clean and decorate a classroom and craft lesson plans before the barbarian hordes return. 

The Current Count:

53 Read, 47 To Go

#46: The Story of the Malakand Field Force by Winston Churchill

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100 books, book review, books, Churchill, history

My third vacation book was written by my favorite historical figure, Winston Churchill.  The Story of the Malakand Field Force was published in 1898 and was Churchill’s first book.  It chronicles an 1897 campaign in the Northwest Frontier of British India (modern-day Pakistan) to punish hostile tribes for an attack on British positions, particularly the camp at the Malakand Pass.  Churchill was a young cavalry subaltern during this campaign and requested to be attached to the force as an observer.  He would eventually serve as an active officer during the campaign, taking the place of a wounded man. 

The historical value of this book is somewhat limited.  The campaign was a relatively minor one and is rarely studied.  The chief interest in this book is connected to Churchill himself.  Even as a very young man, Churchill displays a rare natural ability in composing English prose.  The circumstances of his early life are very interesting, as he travels from war zone to war zone in an effort to make a name for himself.  Malakand is also interesting as a glimpse at the Victorian British Empire at its height.  The attitudes Churchill expresses towards natives are typical of gentlemen of that time, and are the foundation of many of the struggles that the 20th century would see in relation to Indian and African independence.  Churchill believes wholeheartedly in the destined superiority of the Empire, and it is easy to see how that belief would eventually help him push through to victory in World War 2.

Beyond the historical significance, this book was extremely enjoyable as a piece of writing.  Churchill is a master at building interest and excitement.  His depictions of battle are outstanding.  This book stands in sharp contrast to McCaslin’s Tainted Breeze.  Whereas that book was a boring look at a very significant historical event, this book is a very exciting look at an event of limited importance.  If you enjoy military history and strong English prose, Churchill’s Malakand Field Force is an excellent choice.

The Current Count:

46 Read, 54 To Go

#43: Tainted Breeze- The Great Hanging at Gainesville, Texas by Richard B. McCaslin

Tags

100 books, book review, books, Civil War, history

In October 1862 a vigilante court in Gainesville, Texas condemned 42 men to hang due to suspected participation in a Union plot.  This sparked a cycle of violence and vigilantism that would haunt the North Texas region long after the end of the Civil War.  Tainted Breeze by Richard B. McCaslin is a systematic treatment of the Great Hanging.  It chronicles the events leading up to the hanging, the hanging itself, and the aftermath.  I moved to the Gainesville area during the summer before my freshman year of high school, so this book had an added interest for me.  Oddly enough, I never heard anything about the Great Hanging while living in Gainesville.  It was only after I had gone off to college that I heard of these events, and only now that I have actually taken the time to learn about them.  McCaslin’s book certainly satisfied my curiosity.

Tainted Breeze deals with an interesting subject very thoroughly.  That said, it suffers from the dryness and dullness that often plague academic histories.  Popular histories are usually more interesting but less thorough, while academic histories sacrifice interest for thoroughness.  It is the rare historian that can accomplish both.  Unfortunately, McCaslin is not one of those historians.  Parts of the book are very interesting, but others drag on painfully.  If you are interested in Civil War history or the North Texas region, this book is worth reading.  If you are only mildly interested, this book is too dry to hold your interest.

Programming note–  I will be on vacation for the next week, so there will be no new blog posts for a while.  I will be reading during vacation, but I won’t be posting reviews until I get back.

The Current Count:

43 Read, 57 To Go