Customer Reviews

The Atlas of the Renaissance World

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The word atlas has several definitions. The most common meaning of atlas is a book of maps. However, an atlas can also be a book of tables, charts or illustrations about a specific topic. If you are looking for a book of maps, Neil Grant's "The Atlas of Renaissance World" is not for you. Instead, Grant's book is a collection of richly illustrated two page chapters on such divergent topics as "The Renaissance Man", "Rome and the Papacy" and "Florence and the Medici". At its core, this book is primarily a collection of visual images. As far as substance goes, this is not a very deep book but the collection of images is first rate.

I agree with the previous reviewer that if you're looking for an actual "atlas", this product is misnamed. It's sadly lacking in detailed maps. However, it IS chock-full of information that breathes life into the Renaissance world. I found the chapters on NON-Italian Renaissance (France, Ottoman Empire, Eastern Europe etc) particularly useful. Similar to a DK Eyewitness book, but with a weaker layout.

While this book has some nice illustrations, you should not be fooled into thinking that this book is an Atlas. There is a map every two or three pages and they are rarely bigger than 3 by 3 inches with few details. I bought this hoping for a Renaissance equivalent of Anne Millard's excellent Atlas of Ancient Worlds . I have to say that I (and my daughter) are very disappointed.