One of the world's foremost authorities on the Italian Renaissance, Lauro Martines was born in Chicago, has a PhD from Harvard University, but has lived in London since 1970. Until recently he commuted to Los Angeles, where he was Professor of European History at the University of California. He and his wife, the novelist Julia O' Faolain, lived for some years in Florence. His books include Power and Imagination: City-States in Renaissance Italy, An Italian Renaissance Sextet: Six Tales in Historical Context and April Blood: Florence and the Plot Against the Medici.

"A vivid account of the battle cry for a city's soul." Sunday Times "A strong and compelling narrative" -- John Law Times Literary Supplement "Outstanding... The concluding pages of this book are the best distillation I have yet read of the authentic Florentine Renaissance ethos." -- Jonathan Keates Spectator "A thoroughly good read that is also reliable history... impressive narrative power." Wall Street Journal "Martines paints a rich and fascinating portrait of Girolamo Savonarola, the Dominican friar who ruled Florence after the fall of the Medicis. Enraged by church corruption, he led a Florentine council for 20 years - until his enemies burned him at the stake in 1498." Los Angeles Times

One of the world's foremost authorities on the Italian Renaissance, Lauro Martines was born in Chicago, has a PhD from Harvard University, but has lived in London since 1970. Until recently he commuted to Los Angeles, where he was Professor of European History at the University of California. He and his wife, the novelist Julia O' Faolain, lived for some years in Florence. His books include Power and Imagination: City-States in Renaissance Italy, An Italian Renaissance Sextet: Six Tales in Historical Context and April Blood: Florence and the Plot Against the Medici.

"A vivid account of the battle cry for a city's soul." Sunday Times "A strong and compelling narrative" -- John Law Times Literary Supplement "Outstanding... The concluding pages of this book are the best distillation I have yet read of the authentic Florentine Renaissance ethos." -- Jonathan Keates Spectator "A thoroughly good read that is also reliable history... impressive narrative power." Wall Street Journal "Martines paints a rich and fascinating portrait of Girolamo Savonarola, the Dominican friar who ruled Florence after the fall of the Medicis. Enraged by church corruption, he led a Florentine council for 20 years - until his enemies burned him at the stake in 1498." Los Angeles Times