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Commentaries

By Pius II
Series: The I Tatti Renaissance Library
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Commentaries by Pius II is an autobiographical work offering a detailed insight into the life and times of the 15th-century pope. This memoir, written entirely in the third person, provides a fascinating perspective on his experiences, thoughts, and the historical events he witnessed, giving readers a unique glimpse into both his personal endeavours and the broader political and religious landscape of the era.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the intricate details of Renaissance papal politics and the personal reflections of one of the era's most influential figures. This memoir offers a unique perspective on the complex interplay between religion, power, and human ambition during a transformative period in history.

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The Commentaries of Pius II (1405-1464), the only autobiography ever written by a pope, was composed in elegant humanistic Latin modeled on Caesar and Cicero. This edition contains a fresh Latin text based on the last manuscript written in Pius’s lifetime and an updated and corrected version of the 1937 translation.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Renaissance popes were among the most enlightened and generous patrons of arts and letters in Europe during their day. The diaries of Pius II provide an intimate glimpse into the life and thought of one of the greatest of the Renaissance popes.

Pius II (1405-1464), who began life as Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini in a small town near Siena, became a famous Latin poet and diplomat. Originally an opponent of the papacy and somewhat of a libertine, Aeneas eventually reconciled with the Roman church and rose through its ranks to become a priest and then a cardinal. Finally, he was elected Pope Pius II in 1458 and dedicated his pontificate to organizing a pan-European crusade against the Ottoman Empire.

Commentaries, the only autobiography ever written by a pope, was composed in elegant humanistic Latin, modeled on Caesar and Cicero. This edition features a fresh Latin text based on the last manuscript written in Pius's lifetime, along with an updated and corrected version of the 1937 translation by Florence Alden Gragg.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Commentaries by Pius II is a vivid and engaging memoir by Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini, a Sienese humanist who became Pope Pius II. The narrative includes a sharp and sometimes humorous depiction of his elevation to the papacy, blending a candid self-mockery with eloquent descriptions of cities and landscapes. Margaret Meserve and Marcello Simonetta's presentation of the work offers an informative and entertaining glimpse into the Renaissance period, drawing comparisons to the works of Machiavelli.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780674011649

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 17 February 2004

Country: United States

Imprint: Harvard University Press

Illustration: 2 maps

Contributors:

  • Edited by Margaret Meserve
  • Edited by Marcello Simonetta
  • Edited by Margaret Meserve
  • Edited by Marcello Simonetta

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 133.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 522g

Pages: 448

Collections

Biography & Memoir Non-Fiction Pius II Political Biographies Religion & Spirituality Series: The I Tatti Renaissance Library

About the Author

Margaret Meserve is Associate Professor of History and Associate Dean for Humanities and Faculty Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Marcello Simonetta is Assistant Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures, Wesleyan University.

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