“Lorenzo de' Medici: A Brilliant Life and a Turbulent Era” – A monumental biography that vividly portrays 15th-century Florence.

Translated by Ho Hong Dang, the book follows Lorenzo from a young heir to the "uncrowned king" who holds the fate of the city in his hands, ushering in a brilliant yet turbulent era.

Lorenzo de' Medici was a renowned Italian statesman of the 15th century. Known as Il Magnifico (The Great), he was not only a leading patron of science and the arts of his time, but also a celebrated poet, talented in both philosophical verses and popular ballads sung at Carnival.

The Medici family is one of the wealthiest families in Italy. The Medici Bank was founded in 1348 and officially became a financial and banking corporation in 1397, remaining the largest bank in the Old Continent for almost 100 years.

Lorenzo de' Medici was a brilliant statesman, diplomat , and de facto ruler of the Republic of Florence. With the wealth and influence of his Medici bank, he nurtured and facilitated the rise of some of the most brilliant minds of the Renaissance. Geniuses such as Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and especially Michelangelo Buonarroti all received patronage from Lorenzo de' Medici throughout their artistic careers.

Florence under Lorenzo was a city of contrasts, of unparalleled artistic brilliance and of unimaginable squalor in its cramped slums. Here, the sermons on fire and sulfur of Savonarola, the Dominican preacher, resonated.

Florence gave birth to both the sublime perfection of Botticelli's "Spring" and the gritty realism of Machiavelli's "The Prince." It is in the very story of Il Magnifico's life, and nowhere else, that this world of stark contrasts is expressed with such fullness.

With vivid storytelling and rich documentation, Unger recreates not only Lorenzo as a ruler, poet, and patron of the arts, but also a brilliant and brutal era in Italian history. The book is for readers interested in exploring European culture and history in general, and Italian culture and history during the Renaissance in particular.

The book is structured into 20 chapters, following the brilliant life and artistic journey of Lorenzo. It is part of the Omega Plus's Personalities Series.

Author Miles J. Unger is a writer specializing in art, books, and culture for major magazines such as The Economist and The New York Times. Having lived in Florence for five years and visited other parts of Italy numerous times, Miles Unger has amassed a vast knowledge base and nurtured an boundless love for the language and culture of this country.

Miles J. Unger's notable works include "Lorenzo de' Medici: A Brilliant Life and a Turbulent Era" (2008), "Machiavelli - A Biography" (2011), and "Michelangelo - Six Masterpieces of His Life" (2014).

HA CHI

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