Synopses & Reviews
A vibrant history of Italy in the cataclysmic fourteenth century as seen through the life of a brilliant military strategist and bandit lord
At the dawn of the Renaissance, hordes of mercenaries swooped down on the opulent city-states of Italy and commenced to drain them dry. The greatest of all the bandits was Sir John Hawkwood, an English expatriate and military genius who formed his own army, cleverly pitted ancient rivals against one another, held the Pope for ransom, and set blood running in the streets.
In this gripping biography of the charismatic Hawkwood, Frances Stonor Saunders illuminates the fourteenth century as a time of plague, political schism, and religious mania offset by a gargantuan appetite for spectacle and luxury. Dazzling and addictively readable, The Devil's Broker is a riveting account of the fortunes gained and lost in a tumultuous time.
Review
“Few biographies handle the balance between a subjects “life” and his “times” more dextrously than this one...Fascinating.” John Adamson, Sunday Telegraph
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“A narrative driven with robust gusto, splendid writing and an eye for the grotesque.” Bill Saunders, The Independent on Sunday
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“An eye-opening reality check on the myth of chivalry...splendid, lovely writing makes this book memorable.” USA Today
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“Saunders shines a bright light on a time and place even more cynical and hypocritical than our own.” Sante Fe New Mexican
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“Sophisticated…Avid history readers will appreciate the solid work discernible through Saunders stylishly embroidered narrative.” Booklist
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A fascinating tale, as rich and complex as a tapestry. . . . Commanding, skillful, and effervescent.” Kirkus Reviews
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“Fascinating…lively…dramatic life set in a dramatic context.” Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Frances Stonor Saunders is the former arts editor of The New Statesman. Her first book, The Cultural Cold War, has been translated into ten languages and was awarded the Royal Historical Society's William Gladstone Memorial Prize. She lives in London.