I think Tim's way of explaining things is so savvy. As a happy reader
of "The Rise and Decline of the Medici Bank 1397-1494," I was also deeply
impressed by this book. Even if de Roover's book is a must-read book on
financial history and it's so interesting to keep reading. I believe Tim's book might be an excellent one either as I had not been able to do anything until I finished to read it.
I found myself making notes in the margins of this well-written book so I might find certain topics for later reference.
This book is not to be misunderstood as a history of the Medici or
Florence but an account of the rise and fall of the Medici bank.
I also love Tim's articulate writing style and here I want to share some examples among many:
"Propaganda can invent a great deal but prefers a kernal of truth."
"Power always requires propaganda for legitimacy."
"When the grand virtues risk appearing as a charade, or as borrowed from a different drama, the one sure value that remains is money."
"But once made, money notoriously seeks that which cannot - supposedly - be bought"
"Perhaps this is what lies at the heart of our dislike of banking wealth. We are afraid we can be bought. We are sure others already have been, and that many can't wait to be."
"Foreign visitors to Italy in the Fifteenth century frequently remarked on two peculiarities. Everybody had illegitimate children and everybody was extremely concerned with etiquette...And it was perhaps in the absence of order and under the constant threat of anarchy that etiquette and obeisance became so important."
I also love Tim's articulate writing style and here I want to share some examples among many:
"Propaganda can invent a great deal but prefers a kernal of truth."
"Power always requires propaganda for legitimacy."
"When the grand virtues risk appearing as a charade, or as borrowed from a different drama, the one sure value that remains is money."
"But once made, money notoriously seeks that which cannot - supposedly - be bought"
"Perhaps this is what lies at the heart of our dislike of banking wealth. We are afraid we can be bought. We are sure others already have been, and that many can't wait to be."
"Foreign visitors to Italy in the Fifteenth century frequently remarked on two peculiarities. Everybody had illegitimate children and everybody was extremely concerned with etiquette...And it was perhaps in the absence of order and under the constant threat of anarchy that etiquette and obeisance became so important."
I also like the fact that this book seems to have the sense of rhythm. I think that's why Tim is a favorable novelist. Unlike any other history books, this book has apparent musical rhythm between sentences and paragraphs. It is indeed one of the pleasures that I really enjoyed.
I love this book.
