The Artist, the Philosopher, and the Warrior

Da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Borgia and the World They Shaped

By: Paul Strathern

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

Leonardo da Vinci, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Cesare Borgia - three iconic figures whose intersecting lives provide the basis for this astonishing work of narrative history. They could not have been more different, and they would meet only for a short time in 1502, but the events that transpired when they did would significantly alter each man's perceptions - and the course of Western history.

In 1502, Italy was riven by conflict, with the city of Florence as the ultimate prize. Machiavelli, the consummate political manipulator, attempted to placate the savage Borgia by volunteering Leonardo to be Borgia's chief military engineer. That autumn, the three men embarked together on a brief, perilous, and fateful journey through the mountains, remote villages, and hill towns of the Italian Romagna - the details of which were revealed in Machiavelli's frequent dispatches and Leonardo's meticulous notebooks.

Superbly written and thoroughly researched, The Artist, the Philosopher, and the Warrior is a work of narrative genius - whose subject is the nature of genius itself.

©2009 Paul Strathern (P)2018 Tantor

Brought so much renaissance life…to life

What a wonderful narrative history…about the best in its class I have read/listened to. The connections between the two seminal giants of the renaissance, joined by a force of nature (Borgia), was all new to me.

How much I did not know about these 3 men

I wish I had a notepad to jot lineage but I listen while I drive.

Great narration, pronunciation, and biographies.

Although this is another biased opinion about the Borgia family, I did enjoy it. Also, I did enjoyed the names of the important figures, being pronounced correctly.

Good for those who don't know much about Leonardo Da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli, or Cesare Borgia

Those who liked this book, should try "The Life of Cesare Borgia" by Rafael Sabatini. For an unbiased look upon the Borgia family.

A Very Good Book (Just Not As Good As Others)

I listened to this after I listened to Paul Strathern's other books: The Medici and Death in Florence (in that order). I thought this one was still interesting, but the writing seemed more biased and preachy while the narration was good but not as well done as the others by Derek Perkins. I still highly recommend all three books, analog or audio, because they are fascinating.

Comprehensive

Having focused on the Italian Renaissance from Venice through Florence Tuscany in Rome, as well as the individual histories of the Medici family and the Borge’s this work by Paul Stratham was unique in it linkage of the three predominant figures of Leonardo da Vinci, Niccolo, Machiavelli, and Cesare Borgia.
It is well worth the time to listen