Renaissance Warrior and Patron: The Reign of Francis I [Paperback]

R. J. Knecht (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052157885X | ISBN-13: 978-0521578851 | Publication Date: December 28, 1996

This book offers a full and comprehensive account of one of the most colorful and formative reigns in French history, that of Francis I (1515-47), and was published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Francis I's birth in 1494. It is a completely revised edition of Professor Knecht's earlier study of the king, first published in 1982 and for many years the standard work on the subject. That edition is now superseded by this substantially larger work, in which much new written and illustrative material has been included. No other work on the subject is as up to date or as authoritative.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...provides a good historiography of the last ten years of research in the early sixteenth century." Sixteenth Century Journal

"Fortunately, R.J. Knecht's fascination with Fancis I is such that he has clearly devoted many hours of his 'retirement' to expanding, reshaping and updating the highly regarded study of the King which he published in 1982...The net result is a book which is not only more comprehensive than the earlier work but which is also exceptionally readable. A magnificent index will enable those searching for information on places, people and events to acquaint themselves with almost any aspect of the reign. At the same time, the main themes, aided by a prose which is never strained or cumbersome, emerge with clarity." David Parker, Times Literary Supplement

"The present work is much more than a new edition of the earlier book....It should be in every research library and carefully studied by every student of the period....There is no comparable work in English....Knecht is a careful and judicious historian who deals with every aspect of Francis's reign from the standpoint of Paris and the court." J. Russell Major, American Historical Review

"A serious reader will appreciate the realization of Knecht's second edition. The scholarly work would be a worthy informative choice in depth and breadth of the period for specialists in Sixteenth Century, French and European History, in Monarchies, and in the Renaissance Period. The book is a beautiful edition in glossed paper and pleasing print. It should be in the Sixteenth Century collection of any reputable library and highly cited and recommended to its enlightened patrons." European Studies Journal

"A serious reader will appreciate the realization of Knecht's second edition. The scholarly work would be a worthy informative choice in depth and breadth of the period for specialists in sixteenth-century French of European history, in monarchies, and in the Renaissance Period. The book is a beautiful edition in glossed paper and pleasing print. It should be in the sixteenth-century collection of any reputable library and highly cited and recommended to its enlightened patrons." Michael D. Buzash, European Studies Journal

"To portray a balanced and meaningful picture of this giant of the sixteenth century is a challenge which Robert Knecht has grasped and brought to fruition." Keith Cameron, International Journal of the Classical Tradition

Book Description

Offering a comprehensive account of one of the most colorful and formative reigns in French history, that of Francis I (15l7-47), this text was published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of his birth in 1494. It is a completely revised edition of an earlier study published in l982.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (December 28, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052157885X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521578851
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,553,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars France's Answer to Henry VIII, and More!, May 16, 2000

By 

James Paris "Tarnmoor" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renaissance Warrior and Patron: The Reign of Francis I (Paperback)

This is a scholarly life of Francois I, a king about whom Americans know little or nothing, but one that was instrumental in introducing the idea of the grandeur of the French monarchy. Francois lived life to the fullest: he invaded Italy multiple times (was even captured and held for ransom once), married twice, had mistresses everywhere, built palaces and castles all over France -- including Fontainebleau and many of the most famous chateaux of the Loire.

Therefore, it is a little unfortunate that his biographer had so little of that life rub off on him. This is Knecht's second stab at Francois's life, so one would think he could step back a little and marvel at what this truly remarkable man accomplished in his lifetime. After all, he brought Leonardo Da Vinci up to live with him at Amboise and allowed one of the books of Rabelais' PANTAGRUEL to be dedicated to him. Yet Rabelais and Da Vinci are brought into the book only in passing.

Both Henry VIII and the Emperor Charles V were somewhat cowed by this monarch, whose left hand held a sword and right hand, an olive branch.

This is probably a silly thing to mention, but I feel I would recognize Francois if he were alive today. Most illustrations of Medieval or Renaissance princes are more or less interchangeable: Charles the Bold, Richard III, Philip II of Spain. The portraits of Francois make him look like a real person, as if he actually had some control about how he was depicted. A little of his personality comes through in this book, such as in his dealings with artist Benvenuto Cellini -- but what a personality!

Knecht may not be a great biographer like Duff Cooper (Talleyrand) or Richard Holmes (Coleridge), but he did succeed in bringing something of the essence of this great king across.