Celebrating the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo’s David, New American Library releases a special edition of Irving Stone’s classic biographical novel—in which both the artist and the man are brought to life in full. A masterpiece in its own right, this novel offers a compelling portrait of Michelangelo’s dangerous, impassioned loves, and the God-driven fury from which he wrested the greatest art the world has ever known.
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"[Stone] has painted the portrait of a supreme craftsman who was also one of the most versatile artists of all time."
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About the Author
Irving Stone was born in San Francisco on July 14, 1903. He wrote several books in a genre that he coined the “biographical novel,” which recounted the lives of well-known historical figures. In these novels, Stone interspersed biography with fictional narrative on the psychology and private lives of his subjects. He also wrote biographies of Clarence Darrow and Earl Warren, and short biographies of men who lost presidential elections. He died on August 26, 1989.
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129 of 133 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Irving Stone had the ability to do for a single person what James Michener had the ability to do for an entire country. Stone gives us biography on a large scale and it is impossible to read him without learning something or coming away from the novel a better person.
The Agony and the Ecstacy is the "biographical novel" of Michelangelo but much more than that it is the story of the Italian Renaissance in all its glory. Through Michelangelo's eyes one gets a full feeling for Florence and Rome at the time. Stone paints with a broad brush the stories of wars, feuding princes, religious machinations, and the wonderful art that the Renaissance produced.
This novel is however much more than that. It is an analysis of the struggle that is necessary to create. We experience the creation of just about every major work of art of Michelangelo and the personal struggles that went into the creative process. We see the artist as he struggles with family, princes, popes and other artists to get his designs accepted.And finally we see the glory of a life well lived as the artist dies leaving a truly monumental body of work behind.
I don't know how much of this work was novel and how much was pure biography but I do know that the result was one of the most enjoyable reading experiences that I've had for many years. The reader need not worry that he or she is not an expert on Renaissance art when this work is read. Supplemental material and photographs of the works discussed may be found on several web sites. Jump in and enjoy.
66 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Stone took 6 years to research on his biography of Michelangelo. By the end of the book one can only marvel at the tremendous effort Stone undertook. "Agony and Ecstasy" is truly an absorbing and inspiring tale of the greatest genius in art history. Michelangelo's magnificence in sculpture, painting, architecture and poems is compellingly told. The best parts of the novel are the creations of each sculpture, Michelangelo's greatest love. Michelangelo's intensity and passion as he chisels and hammers away on his beloved marbles is vividly written and deeply moving. His rivalry with Raphael and Da Vinci, his struggles with his family, the Popes, the Medici family, his contemporaries and the tumultuous era he lived in are convincing and underlay with sadness. Certain aspects of his life are poignant and heart wrenching - the years wasted quarrying marbles never used, his unsavoury father who only wants money from him and of course the uncompleted Julius II Tomb which haunts him till the later years of his life. By the end of the book, one can only love this titanic genius for his awesome and fearsome talents, which could only be God given, his perseverance, his obsession and passion. The three Pietas, The David, the Madonna and Child in Bruges, Sistine Chapel Vault, Night, Day, Dusk, Dawn, The Last Judgement, St Peter's Dome....Michelangelo is no longer just the creator of these soul stirring, colossal and exalted art works. Stone has given this great genius who lived 500 years ago flesh and blood. Michelangelo is a man driven by his transcendent powers in art, evoking awe, reverence, love and sympathy from us.
56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
As one of Michelangelo's biggest fans, I can truly say that Irving Stone did an incredible job on this biographical novel. Although Michelangelo was known as a sculptor, painter and architect, his greatest love was the marble, and this book shows it.
I just returned from a two week vacation through Italy where I stayed in Florence for about a week. The streets and piazzas where Michelangelo and Granacci walked has been captured by Stone in true detail. San Marco and Santa Maria Novella are extactly as Stone describes. I have also seen most of Michelangelo's works and it is wonderful to see the personal "story" behind each of the works. Not only does this book walk with you though Michelangelo's life, but it also gives the reader a piece of Italian history with the Medici family and the Pope. This book gives me another justification why Michelangelo is God sent. No one should judge his work until they have stood in front of David and the Pieta or looked up at the Sistine Chapel. It is one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
This book may not be an easy read to some because the Italian names may be hard to follow. Some of the historical conflicts among the Medici family, the Pope and Savonarola may be a bit confusing if the reader is not familiar with the attitudes of that time. There are also a minutia of Italian phrases which may be confusing to those who do not understand Italian. But if you are looking for a great book that not only gives you the history, but the emotion, then this is for you.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great read
Of course not everything is this book is going to be completely true as it is a biographical novel. However, this is an excellent read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by satish
One of my favorite books of all time.
To see how one our earth's greatest artists had to struggle with "clients" such as the Pope is cathartic. Irving Stone is one of our best contemporary writers, in my opinion. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Heather Hale
Brought the past to life
Very readable and interesting (albeit very long) biography of Michelangelo. Stone brought to life Michelangelo's passions, genius and constant battles with the Roman emperors. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. Larsen
Amazing
A great read for anyone who ever had an interest in Michelangelo or early Italian art. I found myself constantly google-ing a lot while reading this so that I could learn more... Read more
Published 5 months ago by JillMarie
The Agony and The Ecstasy, Irving Stone, Author.
Best biographical novel I ever read, used as a reference in a presentation, received 100 points for presentation, and an Excellent from my instructor.
Thanks! Read more
Thanks! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jean Phoenix
Inspiring
If you have a creative bone in your body or if you ache to create then this is a must read book. Don't hesitate. Buy it!
Published 11 months ago by Kevin
A swift read (for a big book)
Just thought I would share an small yet interesting historical inconsistency. In reading a different book about famous quotes I saw this: "Love, and a cough, cannot be hid". Read more
Published 15 months ago by JBRMusic
Thoughtful Grandma
My college age granddaughter is going on an university study abroad trip to Italy. I bought this book for her to become more familiar with what she will be seeing. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Suzanne G. Wills
Ecstacy
This epic work follows the life of Michelangelo from his very early days in Florence to his death at 89 in Rome. Read more
Published 17 months ago by marq
Great read about the culture and life of Michelangelo
Would be a great ready before going to Italy. Read this is my high school humanities class many years ago and truly loved it.
Published 22 months ago by ALB
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
HE SAT before the mirror of the second-floor bedroom sketching his lean cheeks with their high bone ridges, the flat broad forehead, and ears too far back on the head, the dark hair curling forward in thatches, the amber-colored eyes wide-set but heavy-lidded. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
few scudi, pietra serena, newest apprentice, bronze frieze, marble carver, new sacristy, wool shop, hundred ducats, marble dust, statuary marble Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Holy Father, Jacopo Galli, Pope Julius, Santo Spirito, Pope Paul, Cardinal Giovanni, Pope Leo, San Lorenzo, San Marco, Cardinal Riario, Last Judgment, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci, Pope Clement, Prior Bichiellini, Leo Baglioni, Gonfaloniere Soderini, Santa Croce, Cardinal Giulio, Duke of Urbino, Santa Maria Novella, Giuliano da Sangallo, Monte Altissimo, Sistine Chapel, Vittoria Colonna New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
HE SAT before the mirror of the second-floor bedroom sketching his lean cheeks with their high bone ridges, the flat broad forehead, and ears too far back on the head, the dark hair curling forward in thatches, the amber-colored eyes wide-set but heavy-lidded. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
few scudi, pietra serena, newest apprentice, bronze frieze, marble carver, new sacristy, wool shop, hundred ducats, marble dust, statuary marble Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Holy Father, Jacopo Galli, Pope Julius, Santo Spirito, Pope Paul, Cardinal Giovanni, Pope Leo, San Lorenzo, San Marco, Cardinal Riario, Last Judgment, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci, Pope Clement, Prior Bichiellini, Leo Baglioni, Gonfaloniere Soderini, Santa Croce, Cardinal Giulio, Duke of Urbino, Santa Maria Novella, Giuliano da Sangallo, Monte Altissimo, Sistine Chapel, Vittoria Colonna New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 56
books:
See all 56 books this book cites
100
books
cite this book:
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- Divine Comedy (Oxford World's Classics) by Dante Alighieri on 6 pages
- The Divine Comedy (The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso) by Dante Alighieri on 6 pages
- Orlando Furioso: A Romantic Epic: Part 1 (Penguin Classics) (Pt. 1) by Ludovico Ariosto on page 555, and Back Matter
- Michael Angelo Buonarroti by Charles Holroyd in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Orlando Furioso (Oxford World's Classics) by Ludovico Ariosto on page 555, and Back Matter
See all 56 books this book cites
- Description & Setting: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Believable World of People, Places, and Events (Write Great Fiction) by Ron Rozelle on 5 pages
- Radical Innovation: How Mature Companies Can Outsmart Upstarts by Richard Leifer in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Honey for a Teen's Heart by Gladys Hunt on page 213, and page 214
- My Renaissance: A Widow's Healing Pilgrimage to Tuscany by Rose Marie Curteman on page 98, and Back Matter
- Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters by Peter Vronsky on page 152, and page 315
See all 100 books citing this book
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