Debts, Dowries, Donkeys

The starting-point for this study of messer Bernardo, father of the statesman and humanist Niccolò Machiavelli, is the diary he wrote over a period of thirteen years (1474-1487). Drawing upon many further sources, including Bernardo's will, tax records and genealogies, the first in-depth investigation of the libro di ricordi reconstructs a panorama of everyday life during a fascinating period of the history of Florence. Topics explored include Machiavelli family history, household economy, wedding rites and Bernardo's interest in books and printing. This study is invaluable for an understanding of Niccolò's intellectual and family background. Four case-studies examine how messer Bernardo dealt with disputes and reveal the medieval roots of behaviour and mentality in Quattrocento Florence.

Autorentext

The Author: After studying European Prehistory at London University, Catherine Atkinson, M. A., worked for a number of years in medieval building archaeology in Northern Germany, where she now lives. Having completed a master's course at Hannover University in Medieval and Early Modern History, she is currently engaged in writing her doctoral thesis in Renaissance History and Literature.

Zusammenfassung
"Das...auf englisch erschienene und somit auch für die internationale Forschung leicht verfügbare Werk liest sich mit viel Gewinn. Dies ist um so mehr der Fall, als seine Autorin, Catherine Atkinson, einen interdisziplinären Ansatz gewählt hat und nicht nur historisch, sondern literaturgeschichtlich vorgeht. [...] Atkinson hat Messer Bernardo zu seinem historischen Recht verholfen." (Georg Christoph Berger Waldenegg, Das Historisch-Politische Buch)

Inhalt
Contents: Machiavelli family history (medieval) Niccolò Machiavelli's family background Intellectual interests in Renaissance Florence Study of Florentine mentalities Messer Bernardo as a household economist Writing ricordanze (diaries).