"Nothing by Peter Burke should ever be left unread, and this book displays many of his admirable talents: the unerring eye for evidence, the gift for concise language, the reliable habit of detailed exemplification." Times Literary Supplement "This is a delightfully nimble book distinguished by the coherence of its general structure and the clarity of its connections, qualities which are complemented by the vivid deployment of compressed detail." History Today "Few themes have consumed as much ink as the Italian Renaissance. However, this book by Peter Burke, professor at the University of Cambridge, is original in that it explains, in a suggestive and highly accessible manner, the reasons for the success and spread of the Renaissance spirit throughout Europe between the Quattrocento and the 17th century." Bulletin Quotidien Europe "Burke's remit remains refreshingly wide-ranging. Here, as in previous titles, he confirms that his metier is the synthetic, and always enviably accessible, introduction." Times Higher Education Supplement