Review by Choice Review
In this collection of seven papers (three previously published), Fryde addresses the general theme of the revival of classical historiography during the Italian Renaissance. Making extensive use of manuscripts, he explores the roles of Bruni, Politian, and others in reviving a ``scientific'' historiography and improving the standards of classical scholarship. The last three papers focus upon Lorenzo de' Medici through a survey of the relevant historiography, a study of his patronage of scholarship and the arts, and a reconstruction of his library. In the latter essay, the author makes systematic use of Fabio Vigili's little-known inventories of manuscripts returned to the Medici in 1508. The scholarly but dry style of this article generally characterizes the book, although Chapter 1 constitutes a notable exception. The narrowness of the scope and the familiarity with other scholarship presumed make this a work most appropriate for faculty and graduate students. Too many typographical errors, the most glaring of which is the placement of footnotes for p. 87 on p. 86.-J. Harrie, California State College, Bakersfield
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
