The hardcover of Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer

Finished #InventingTheRenaissance just in time, as it’s due today.

(I have renewed it several times)

I find myself annoyingly intrigued by the Lucretius sex scene that garnered so much attention and helped send at least one man to his death. #InventingTheRenaissance

#InventingTheRenaissance is next up in my summer reading pile, and now I am looking forward to it even more!

Here is the transcribed text from the image: ⸻ 33 Montesecco: An Assassin Fears for His Soul Giovanni Battista da Montesecco (c.1450–78) was a mercenary used by Pope Sixtus IV in the infamous Pazzi Conspiracy.⁴⁸ Papal service was a high-risk but lucrative career path for sons of minor noble families, and Montesecco’s family owned a small castle and lands near the town of Pergola, between Urbino and Ancona— they were, in sum, exactly the kind of minor landed nobility that Florence had gotten rid of, that the Tornaquinci => Tornabuoni family used to be, and that could use nobility to pursue wealth through mercenary work in a way a humble merchant family (even if far wealthier) could not. Montesecco distinguished himself in several battles aiding or opposing coups in towns within the Papal States (all during the so-called “Peace” of Lodi). He was rewarded for his service with the title of count, and made commander of the infant…

Hello @adapalmer.bsky.social - reading your #InventingtheRenaissance - and a question has popped up multiple times:

What is it to be ‘noble’ blooded? As this book shows - I guess you can acquire it via aligning yourself with history.

You reference a rule though - noting grandparent lineage.

#TerraIgnota
#TooLikeTheLightning
#SevenSurrenders
#TheWillToBattle
#PerhapsTheStars
#AdaPalmer
#InventingTheRenaissance

Cover of the book Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer in white lettering and featuring the statue Perseus with the head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini against an orange background

ICYMI BOOK REVIEW: #InventingTheRenaissance by #AdaPalmer. LOVED THIS BOOK.
Nonfiction that is humorous yet erudite. There are truly some laugh-out-loud moments here.
suanneschaferauthor.com/book-review-...
#Renaissance
#NonFiction
#NonFiction
#AmReading
#Bookstagram
#Skybook
#BookReviews

Covers of multiple books

My May 2025 book reviews. The best of these, indubitably, #TheAntidote by #KarenRussell and #InventingTheRenaissance by #AdaPalmer.
suanneschaferauthor.com/book-review-...
#BookReviews
#AmReading
#SkyBooks
#Bookstagram
#NonFiction
#MagicalRealism
#DustBowl
#WomensFiction
#HistoricalFictionCov

Book covers of multiple books

My April 2025 books read. The best of these: #TheAntidote by #KarenRussell, #Recitatif by Toni Morrison, #InventingTheRenaissance by #AdaPalmer.
#NonFiction
#DustBowl
#MagicalRealism
#HistoricalFiction
#HistoricalRomance
#AmReading
#Bookstagram
#SkyBooks

Cover of the book Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer which has Benvenuto Cellini's bronze status of Perseus holding Medusa's head aloft in black on an orange background with white title letters

BOOK REVIEW: #InventingTheRenaissance by #AdaPalmer.
Nonfiction that is humorous yet erudite. Believe it or not, there are truly some laugh-out-loud moments.
suanneschaferauthor.com/book-review-...
#Renaissance
#Florence
#NonFiction
#Machiavelli
#AmReading
#Bookstagram
#Skybook
#BookReviews

I’m only up to page 89, but have already done a certain amount of cackling myself.

#InventingTheRenaissance

My March 2025 books read. The best: #InventingTheRenaissance by #AdaPalmer‚—absolutely riveting; #CleverLittleThing by #HelenaEchlin; #InTheCountryOfOthers by #LeilaSlimani; #Weyward by #EmiliaHart; #TheWhip by #KarenKondazian; and #Tangles by #KaySmithBlum
#HistoricalFiction
#DomesticThrillers

Ada Palmer’s Inventing the Renaissance — a big orange book on a grey background.

My sitting outside a cafe in the sun read. Not possible this week, unfortunately. Shame, it is very good — sparkling writing, surprising facts, and strong opinions.

#adapalmer
#inventingtherenaissance