The City of Florence: Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings

I have only visited Florence one time, but that was enough to ensure a special permanent place in my heart for this magnificent Tuscan city. Author R.W.B. Lewis had a more than fifty year love affair with Florence, and in his "The City of Florence - Historical Vistas & Personal Sightings" he eloquently makes a case for why this was his favorite place to live outside of the U.S. Professor Lewis won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography "Edith Wharton," which was penned during one of his many long sojourns in Tuscany. His writing is exemplary - lyrical and precise.The book is a wonderful weaving together of historical insights into the political, artistic, architectural and intellectual history of the city with very personal reflections on what life in the modern city has been for Lewis and his family. He first encountered the City of Florence during WWII when his U.S. Army unit entered the city shortly after the Germans had bombed many of the historic bridges. After the war, he joined the faculty of Yale University and lived in the wooded hills of Bethany, Connecticut - when he was not residing in Florence. Numerous academic assignments and sabbaticals gave him ample opportunities to return to Tuscany.The author's vibrant and poetic style of writing helped to raise to the surface my own vivid memories of sites in and around Florence. The book also took me down streets and into neighborhoods I had not had the chance to explore in my brief encounter with the city. Because Lewis and his family always lived in a different neighborhood each time they returned to Florence, he was able to share intimate details of life in the city from several different geographical and experiential perspectives. His stories of those who had lived in the city before him made each spot, each church, each bridge, each piazze, each trattoria take on almost a human personality.This is a book that will be appreciated by anyone whose life has been touched by the insieme of Florence, or who dreams about visiting there some day.

I stumbled upon this book more than a decade ago, just before my first trip to Florence. What a stroke of luck! The author first came to Florence as an Army officer in 1945, and never left. He has been paying close attention, and has all kinds of trivia that flesh out the larger historical picture. He turned us on to all manner of interesting, fun, intriguing, out of the way locales and stories I never would have run across. Imagine having a genteel old friend with an apartment in Florence for 60 years....and you get to visit! Well worth it.....I would say mandatory for anyone contemplating a visit to Tuscany, or anyone who wants a great armchair visit.

I have been through many little and large books on Florence, but this one I will take with me next time I go there. There are detailed stories, anecdotes (both in italian and english), personal insights on Florence the city and the florentines, from etruscans to modern men. And he takes on the roots of Arno and the neighboring towns. I share the writer's enhusiasm over Giovanni Fanelli, and envy him for meeting my hero. And finally I got to read just a bit more on Arnolfo di Cambio, such a key person in the development of Florence as a town structure as well as the great buildings that shape the whole of Florence as we see it today.

this is a great read about a great city, lots of historical background and tips on the people of Florence, their government and political history.very useful for travelers who want to know more than surface facts about the city of Florence.

This book was written by a reknown professor of American literature who first encountered Florence in midst of WWII. No simple travel book, it reflects on the Florernce of today and goes back 1000 years in some depth to contemplate the evolution of a unique city that the author clearly loves.

Arrived in condition promised and quickly...The perfect escape from the daily grind. Can't wait to dive in at the end of the day with hot beverage or wine...Viva Firenze!!!!

Good read to prepare for my trip to Florence.

Excellent quality.