Agony and the Ecstasy
by Irving Stone
Our Price: $9.09
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.33 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Irving StoneEdition: 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.Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.82
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and his Timesby William E. Wallace
Cambridge University Press; Published: 2011-07-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.72
Price in other shops:
The Birth of Venus: A Novelby Sarah Dunant
Random House Trade Paperbacks; Published: 2004-11-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.75
Price in other shops:
The Italian Renaissanceby J.H. Plumb Professor
Mariner Books; Published: 2001-06-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.20
Price in other shops:
Michelangelo: The Complete Sculpture, Painting, Architectureby William E. Wallace
Universe; Published: 2009-09-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $27.46
Price in other shops:
The Stones of Florenceby Mary McCarthy
Mariner Books; Published: 2002-11-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fallby Christopher Hibbert
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 1999-05-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.08
Price in other shops:
Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architectureby Ross King
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2001-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceilingby Ross King
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2003-11-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
Lust for Lifeby Irving Stone
Plume; Published: 1984-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.79
Price in other shops:
The Agony and the EcstasyFox; Release date: 2005-02-22; DVD
Best price: $4.19
Price in other shops: