⋙ Read The Agony and the Ecstasy A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo Irving Stone 9780451171351 Books

The Agony and the Ecstasy A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo Irving Stone 9780451171351 Books

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The Agony and the Ecstasy A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo Irving Stone 9780451171351 Books

I originally purchased this book out of curiosity. I wanted to learn about and study a genius' life. A lover of art and design, I was naturally drawn to Michelangelo. After a substantial research on the best biographies based on his life and work, I was more than convinced that this book was it. And it didn't disappoint me at all!

I had never been to Italy when I started reading. A few months later, my sister and I planned a weekend in Europe, and partly because of this book, I convinced my sister we had to spend a weekend in Rome. Shortly after, I spent a week in Florence, and it was the very first time I felt like an informed tourist, knowing what I was marveling at.

The Agony and the Ecstasy is a novel-like biography of Michelangelo intertwined with historical accounts and facts about his life. It is written in such a way you won't want to put the book down. I felt like I lived inside Michelangelo's head; like I really got to know his person, simultaneously studying art and design history. It's set during the Italian Renaissance, and Michelangelo was a central figure of that glorious period. The book is filled with information. So far, it is the most substantial book I've read, and it's the first time I've taken my time reviewing a book.

The book is by no means an easy read; It took me weeks to finish. In fact, when I first bought it, I had to set it aside before I made it halfway, and I had to re-read it from the start. As I read the last pages, my heart ached as Michelangelo was getting weaker and weaker. It was quite an experience feeling like I lived side by side such a genius. All the masterpieces he forged during his life—just wow!

This book has sparked a deeper interest in me for art and design, and now for a newfound love: sculpture.
Thank you, Irving Stone, for this masterpiece of a book. ''♥︎


Tags : The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo [Irving Stone] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <b>Irving Stone’s classic biographical novel of Michelangelo—the #1 New York Times</i> bestseller in which both the artist and the man are brought to vivid,Irving Stone,The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo,Berkley,0451171357,354228,Literary,Artists - Italy,Artists - Italy - Fiction,Biographical fiction,Michelangelo Buonarroti,Michelangelo Buonarroti - Fiction,FICTION Biographical,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Literary,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction-Literary,General Adult,Historical - General,MASS MARKET,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),art history books for adults;art books for adults;artists;sculpture;renaissance;leonardo da vinci;michaelangelo biography;the creation of man;creation of man;gifts for men;gifts for history buffs;history buff gifts;16th century;art;art history;artist;famous artists;biography;Florence;historical;history;italian renaissance;Italy;Michelangelo;Sistine chapel;Vatican;sculptor;David;irving stone;religion;the last judgement;Italian history;fresco;literary fiction;historical fiction books,16th century; art; art history; artist; famous artists; biography; Florence; historical; history; italian renaissance; Italy; Michelangelo; sculpture; Sistine chapel; Vatican; sculptor; David; irving stone; religion; the last judgement; Italian history; fresco; art history books for adults; art books for adults; artists; renaissance; leonardo da vinci; michaelangelo biography; the creation of man; creation of man; gifts for men; gifts for history buffs; history buff gifts; historical fiction books; historical fiction novels

The Agony and the Ecstasy A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo Irving Stone 9780451171351 Books Reviews

Here is a timeless masterpiece , written so beautifully about the great genius of Michaelangelo. Having read many years ago, I am traveling to Rome and wanted to freshen my memory. HOWEVER the size of this paperback is so very small , reading in this format is difficult and uncomfortable. I do not recommend this particular publication. Really disappointed.
I loved this book so much and couldn't believe I could get so "into it". It is brilliantly written and brings all the character to life with such awareness of their feelings and determination. Michaelangelo had to be given his gift by God. No one could have such obsessive, unequalled talent otherwise.

What I loved the most, was his relentless determination to sculpt I could not have imagined how difficult and what talent it took to make creations like "David", the "Pieta, "Moses", "Christ on the Cross", and the unimaginable "Sistine Chapel" lying on his back for 4 years!!!! I felt as though I knew him personally by the time I finished this masterpiece.
A well documented story of Michelangelo and his time that becomes a novel while you discover the renaissance of Lorenzo il Magnifico, the gloomy world of Savonarola and the intrigues and weaknesses of the Popes. Very well written and interesting, it tells you of lost masterpieces and of how famous artists of the time, such as Botticelli, Leonardo and Raphael, interacted in a blessed period for art. The portrait of Michelangelo as a hard-working, withdrawn and lonely individual with an incredible talent is powerful. Unputdownable.
I read it 35 years ago and it made me fall in love with art. A recent trip to Italy and seeing Michelangelo's artwork in person inspired me to re-read the book - it's still fantastic.
I just came back from 6 weeks in Florence where I lived across the street from where Michaelangelo grew up. This book was such fun to read, all tI had walked all over Florence and it was fun to see how the familiar places were hundreds of years ago - I learned a lot of history - seems to have been extremely well - researched. Stone quoted poetry by Michaelangelo when relevant. It was an amazing look at a facscinating, but difficult life. I had no idea he really never had enough money as his father was always dunning him to help out with some scheme or other that never seemed to succeed,and did not appreciate his art at all except for the money it paid. There is a lot about how he prepared for his sculpture. Read the book first, then see the movie which is not as accurate but also good.
When I first received the recommendation to read it, I thought that it would be a boring description of times long gone with a silver lining in the art itself.

Boy was I wrong !

It is an incredible journey through time with twists and plots that revolve around art, religion, politics as well as romance, friendship and family.
It is a story about the struggle to follow your passion to whatever end. It is the kind of book that left me with a sense of "OK.. now what? What could I read to be on par with Mr. Stone's creation?"

Let's say that from now on, I will never look at sculpture or art as a whole with the same eyes.

Even though I knew that it was a biography work, I still read it like a fiction book and this helped putting me in every situation described.
I first read this book when it originally came out. And when my book club decided to read it, I didn't object because I remembered that I liked it. Well, I think I enjoyed it more the second time. I was fascinated by the historical background and learned a lot about that time period....and about the making of sculpture. The characters were fleshed out enough to be interesting and added information to what I had learned in history classes--although as in all historical fiction, it would be nice to know what is real and what is the author's imagination. The book is well written and an easy and interesting read. If you are planning a trip to Italy, I would definitely put it on my pre-trip reading list.
I originally purchased this book out of curiosity. I wanted to learn about and study a genius' life. A lover of art and design, I was naturally drawn to Michelangelo. After a substantial research on the best biographies based on his life and work, I was more than convinced that this book was it. And it didn't disappoint me at all!

I had never been to Italy when I started reading. A few months later, my sister and I planned a weekend in Europe, and partly because of this book, I convinced my sister we had to spend a weekend in Rome. Shortly after, I spent a week in Florence, and it was the very first time I felt like an informed tourist, knowing what I was marveling at.

The Agony and the Ecstasy is a novel-like biography of Michelangelo intertwined with historical accounts and facts about his life. It is written in such a way you won't want to put the book down. I felt like I lived inside Michelangelo's head; like I really got to know his person, simultaneously studying art and design history. It's set during the Italian Renaissance, and Michelangelo was a central figure of that glorious period. The book is filled with information. So far, it is the most substantial book I've read, and it's the first time I've taken my time reviewing a book.

The book is by no means an easy read; It took me weeks to finish. In fact, when I first bought it, I had to set it aside before I made it halfway, and I had to re-read it from the start. As I read the last pages, my heart ached as Michelangelo was getting weaker and weaker. It was quite an experience feeling like I lived side by side such a genius. All the masterpieces he forged during his life—just wow!

This book has sparked a deeper interest in me for art and design, and now for a newfound love sculpture.
Thank you, Irving Stone, for this masterpiece of a book. ''♥︎