Customer Reviews

Portraits from the Age of Exploration: Selections from Andre Thevet's *Les vrais pourtraits et vies des hommes illustres*

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For some time I had looked for a good primary source for my students that did not speak directly to politics or religion. I have found it. The political and religious issues of the day emerge in Thevet, but more through his presuppositions than in his direct statements. I find this quite refreshing, and my students agree. As important as it is to study religious and political documents from the era, this book blows the dust off such matters and animates them in the world-view of one whose life they permeated. Thevet also reminds us that commerce, politics, religion, and inter-cultural activity cannot be separated. The book is very readable, nontechnical, and conveniently brief. I do hope Dr. Schlesinger will publish more of Thevet's biographies and treat them in a similar manner. Some books teach us about sixteenth century Europe and do it well; but this title does even better--it takes us there on a field trip.