When I saw this book by Paul Strathern, I flicked through it where it seemed like maybe it would fill in a few more gaps for me about the Renaissance. The book’s focus is Florence, and gives a flavour of its literature, art and science during these times. It also highlights cultural developments, including the calendar, the banking system and the political landscape. The latter is mostly through the emergence of the Medici family.
 
 Overall, I enjoyed reading this, and it was also handy in giving me background on two reads that have been parked in my tbr for quite some time: The Divine Comedy and The Decameron.
 
And though in places it was bitsy (where it moved on quickly to the next point or subject), I have still come away with a better understanding of the Renaissance than before.