Florence

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In a brand-new hardcover edition: David Leavitt brings the wonders and mysteries of Florence alive. Why has Florence always drawn so many English and American visitors? What has be en its particular appeal for writers and artists over the centuries? Moving fleetly between present and past and exploring characters both real and fictional, Leavitt's narrative considers the appeal of Florence to figures as diverse as Tchaikovsky, E. M. Forster, and Mary McCarthy. Lesserknown episodes in Florentine history—the moving of Michelangelo's David and the construction of temporary bridges by black American soldiers in the wake of the Second World War—are contrasted with images of Florence today with its vast pizza parlors and tourist culture. Ultimately, Leavitt makes a robust case for this most enigmatic of Italian cities. Show more