Lives of the early Medici : $b As told in their correspondence

In this vivid collection, the private letters of the early Medici family unfold like a diary of Renaissance Florence. Rather than the grand political narratives we usually hear, the correspondence reveals everyday concerns—household economics, a daughter’s love of bathing, a child’s earnest request for a promised pony, and heated debates over a tutor’s methods. Listeners hear the voices of Lorenzo, his sister Contessina, Lucrezia, and even young Piero as they write in Italian and Latin, offering a texture that brings the era to life.

The editor has drawn the material from archives, rare pamphlets and previously unpublished manuscripts, presenting the letters in clear translation alongside facsimile portraits. These documents show how titles like “Your Magnificence” were used in ordinary moments, allowing a glimpse of the human side behind the famous Medici name. For anyone curious about the intimate world that shaped a dynasty, the letters provide a fresh, personal window into the social and familial dynamics of 15th‑century Italy.