Inventing the Renaissance

Myths of a Golden Age

By: Ada Palmer

Narrated by: Candida Gubbins

Bloomsbury presents Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer, read by Candida Gubbins.

The Renaissance is one of the most studied and celebrated eras of history. Spanning the end of the Middle Ages to the beginning of modernity, it has come to symbolise the transformative rebirth of knowledge, art, culture and political thought in Europe. And for the last two hundred years, historians have struggled to describe what makes this famous golden age unique.

In Inventing the Renaissance, acclaimed historian Ada Palmer provides a fresh perspective on what makes this epoch so captivating. Her witty and irreverent journey through the fantasies historians have constructed about the period show how its legend derives more from later centuries’ mythmaking than from the often grim reality of the period itself. She examines its defining figures and movements: the enduring legacy of Niccolò Machiavelli, the rediscovery of the classics, the rise of the Medici and fall of the Borgias, the astonishing artistic achievements of Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Cellini, the impact of the Inquisition and the expansion of secular Humanism. Palmer also explores the ties between culture and money: books, for example, could cost as much as grand houses, so the period’s innovative thinkers could only thrive with the help of the super-rich. She offers fifteen provocative and entertaining character portraits of Renaissance men and women, some famous, some obscure, whose intersecting lives show how the real Renaissance was more unexpected, more international and, above all, more desperate than its golden reputation suggests.

Drawing on her popular blogs and writing with her characteristic energy and wit, Palmer presents the Renaissance as we have never seen it before. Colloquial, funny and brilliant, you would never expect a work of deep scholarship to make you alternately laugh and cry.©2025 Ada Palmer (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Detailed analysis of the renaissance times.

It is a masterpiece of renaissance history that is best suited for academics who love reading long and, sometimes, convoluted texts.
For the others who cannot focus for long periods, this is not their book.

Instant favorite

This was so interesting and fun, I have learned a lot about the time period and about this field of study in general. Excellent narrator, at times I forgot it's not narrated by the author because the narration felt so natural.

Erudite but informal and takes political swipes

This is a very impressive and informative book, even for people who are already familiar with the subject. A bit overly biographical perhaps, but very valuable in busting myths and misconceptions about the Renaissance. I van't do justive to its breadth, but a main theme is the use and abuse of the Renaissance for politics.

The narration could be better when it comes to Italian names. And the tone is very informal. Ok, I can live with that. But there is also some political bias. She makes no secret of her very left-wing politics, and brings up things like colonialism to attack it when completely uncalled for. That can get a little annoying. But it's almost always side matters, the history is generally solid (even when it goes against her politics).

If you critically evaluate the book and Ignore the politics, it can be a great book.

Fantastic book

Much like watching a magician explain to you meticulously how to pull a rabbit out of your hat, just to discover they sawed you in two while you were distracted, Ada Palmer convince you no single 'X factor' can explain the Renaissance, all while slowly showing you, slowly, like honey dripping from a spoon, how providence died and progress was born.
I'm not even mad