Agony and the Ecstasy

Agony and the Ecstasy
by Irving Stone

Agony and the Ecstasy
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Book Summary Information

Author: Irving Stone
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1990-01-01
ISBN: 0099416271
Number of pages: 777
Publisher: Random House

Book Reviews of Agony and the Ecstasy

Book Review: Michelangelo as a friend
Summary: 5 Stars

This book needs two prerequisites. First, I suggest seeing the film version The Agony and the Ecstasy. Although the film only covers the Sistine Chapel years, you get a feel for rhythm and occasional syncopation of Michelangelo's life.

The second would be to look up pictures of M's statues and painting. Stone's words, as poetic as they are, do not justice to Michelangelo's poetry set in stone. There is a photographic version of "The DaVinci Code" (The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Edition: A Novel), and I would endorse a similarly illustrated version of this book. Remember the two proverbs: "Seeing is believing," and "A picture is worth a thousand words."

This book is a marvel. Stone is able to balance the three Herculean tasks of depicting the life of M, the times of M, and integrating the two into a seamless whole. His craft is flawless, and reminds me of M's own work "The Last Judgment." Each chapter is its own mini masterpiece, but there is also the effect of the whole, which is in its own category of masterworks.

In fact, so much space is devoted to the times and setting of M's life that I felt this biography could almost be a textbook for the middle Renaissance. If you are not careful, the political, ecclesiastical, and intellectual framework can eclipse the main life-thread. But the information is necessary to understand the subject matter, much an animal-lover forcing herself to understand quadratic equations in order to get her degree in zoology. The burning heart-love is there, but love must not be mindless.

As to conflict, it seems like M ran afoul of everyone: his mentors, the politicos, the church, the Pope, and even DaVinci (who should have known better). So this book is also a motivational sermon. Anyone who struggles with realizing a dream should use this book as chemotherapy for the soul. You read, you get tired with discouragement, but you keep going on, knowing that at some point "this too shall pass."

In fact the section called "The Giant," which is about the carving of David, could be it's own volume. The agony and the ecstasy of how M finally carved the statue speaks volumes about the human condition, and the sausage-like way that art is made.

So, I recommend this book for so many reasons. Most of all, you feel that Michelangelo is a friend. And we could all use such a one.

Summary of Agony and the Ecstasy

This is Irving Stone's powerful and passionate biographical novel of Michelangelo. His time: the turbulent Renaissance, the years of poisoning princes, warring popes, the all-powerful Medici family, the fanatic monk Savonarola. His loves: the frail and lovely daughter of Lorenzo de Medici; the ardent mistress of Marco Aldovrandi; and his last love - his greatest love - the beautiful, unhappy Vittoria Colonna. His genius: a God-driven fury from which he wrested the greatest art the world has ever known. Michelangelo Buonarotti, creator of "David", painter of the Sistine ceiling, architect of the dome of St Peter's, lives once more in the tempestuous, powerful pages of Irving Stone's marvellous book.

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