Paul Strathern

This is an accessible telling of the lives and deeds of key figures of the northern renaissance.
I thought the distinction of the "northern" renaissance was a litlle artificial, but it was probably worth the author highlighting that there was much more to the renaissance than the art and architecture of Italy.
The book is broken up into short chapters covering individuals who made their mark in the opening of minds in the 1400 and 1500s northern Europe. From Luther to Copernicus to Erasmus and Shakespeare, there is much there to keep the reader interested.
I had a couple of quibbles - I couldn't see how Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth I contributed much to the renaissance. Major figures in the times in France and England, but ranaissance figures? I'm not convinced. And while Shakespeare is covered as a major literary figure, there wasn't much effort to highlight how he was different from his predescessors, or how he changed the stage for the future.
But minor points. This is good popularised history.… (more)