THE CIVILIZATION OF THE RENAISSANCE IN ITALY

Burckhardt's classic eulogy of Italian civilization explores an engrossing world of politics and popes, religion and renegades, lifestyles and literature that few historical works encompass. For the audio listener, however, impediments handicap the scholarly work. While Burckhardt's elegant style is well delivered, frequent parentheses jolt Geoffrey Howard's uninflected tones. The eye can take or leave such interruption. The ear cannot. Another difficulty lies in the frustration of untranslated quotations. The 15 hours of Burkhardt's opus are a tour de force by Howard (in spite of uneven sound levels) and a joy for devotees of the Renaissance. But this is not always easy listening. S.B.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 02]