The Other Renaissance

Paul Strathern<b> </b>studied philosophy at Trinity College Dublin. He is a Somerset Maugham Award-winning novelist; author of two series of books - <i>Philosophers in 90 Minutes</i> and <i>The Big Idea: Scientists who Changed the World</i> - and several works of non-fiction including <i>The Medici The Artist the Philosopher and the Warrior</i> <i>Spirit of Venice</i> <i>Death in Florence The Borgias </i>and <i>The Florentines</i> <b>'Enlightening and fascinating' John Banville <i>Wall Street Journal</i></b><br><br>Through the lives of major figures from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries including Copernicus Gutenberg Luther Catherine de Medici Rabelais van Eyck and Shakespeare Paul Strathern tells the fascinating story of the northern European Renaissance which rivalled its Italian counterpart.<br><br>There is no denying that many of the first developments of the Renaissance took place in Italy. However a revolution of similar magnitude was also occurring across northern Europe which would forever alter European culture in its own unique fashion. Initially centred on the city of Bruges its influence was soon felt in France the German states England and even in Italy itself.<br><br>By vividly bringing to life the key players of the northern Renaissance Paul Strathern explores some of the most significant advances of the whole era revealing how they not only introduced new ways of thinking in art literature science philosophy mathematics and medicine but also allowed for the evolution of an entirely different concept of life. <br><br>In this compelling and original history Strathern shows how the 'Other Renaissance' would play a role at least as significant as the Italian Renaissance in shattering the constraints of medieval life and bringing our modern world into being. <b>An original and compelling history of the northern European medieval renaissance in art science and philosophy which rivalled its Italian counterpart by the author of <i>The Florentines </i>and <i>The Borgias</i>.</b> <b>Enlightening and fascinating</b>... Mr. Strathern's canvas is immense yet the picture he paints is never less than pellucid and <b>packed with lively detail and fascinating facts.</b> <b>From art and astronomy to medicine and exploration<i> The Other Renaissance</i> covers a lot of ground and the author's biographical style is invariably engaging... Lively and wide-ranging.</b> <b>Lively... Strathern's entertaining cast of often garrulous northerners their origins ranging from Paris to rainy London discovered things that made us what we are today... He describes their contributions in clear-sighted and effective prose making complex ideas instantly intelligible... Full of pleasing anecdotes and myths are duly dispatched along the way.</b> <b>Entertaining... A rich and varied depiction of the extraordinary culture of northern Europe in the early modern period. Strathern has a good eye for striking details and arresting anecdotes... Vivid and interesting.</b> <b>Deeply fascinating</b> <b>A remarkable work</b> <b>Following the great minds of the [Renaissance] period in insightful biographical chapters Strathern's book sets the record straight on this second revival.</b> <b>Enlightening and fascinating</b>... Mr. Strathern's canvas is immense yet the picture he paints is never less than pellucid and <b>packed with lively detail and fascinating facts.</b> <b>From art and astronomy to medicine and exploration<i> The Other Renaissance</i> covers a lot of ground and the author's biographical style is invariably engaging... Lively and wide-ranging.</b> <b>Lively... Strathern's entertaining cast of often garrulous northerners their origins ranging from Paris to rainy London discovered things that made us what we are today... He describes their contributions in clear-sighted and effective prose making complex ideas instantly intelligible... Full of pleasing anecdotes and myths are duly dispatched along the way.</b> <b>Entertaining... A rich and varied depiction of the extraordinary culture of northern Europe in the early modern period. Strathern has a good eye for striking details and arresting anecdotes... Vivid and interesting.</b> <b>Deeply fascinating</b> <b>A remarkable work</b> <b>Following the great minds of the [Renaissance] period in insightful biographical chapters Strathern's book sets the record straight on this second revival.</b>