The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a seminal work that spans several decades of Franklin's life, from his childhood in Boston to his later years as a respected statesman and scientist. The autobiography is divided into four parts, each written during different periods of his life. It covers his apprenticeship to his brother James, his early career as a printer and publisher, his experiments with electricity, and his civic and political involvements. The work is notable for its insights into Franklin's personal life, his pursuit of moral perfection, and his contributions to American history and culture.
In this biography, Geoffrey Parker delves into the life of Charles V, using vital new evidence to offer a detailed and nuanced portrayal. The book explores Charles V's role as the Holy Roman Emperor, his political and military endeavors, and the broader historical context of his time. Parker's work provides a thorough examination of Charles V's impact on European history and his legacy.
Renaissance Mass Murder delves into the phenomenon of mass violence during the Italian Wars, highlighting the significant impact on civilians and soldiers. The book brings together a rich array of evidence to explore the nature and consequences of such violence in the Renaissance era.
This interdisciplinary volume provides a nuanced portrayal of Clement VII's pontificate, re-evaluating his character, political strategies, and cultural patronage. It explores pivotal events such as the Sack of Rome and the English Reformation, offering insights into Renaissance Europe's cultural and religious landscape. The book draws on neglected sources to reassess Clement's legacy beyond his well-known failures.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the infamous assault of an army of the Holy Roman Emperor on the city of Rome in 1527. The troops soon broke through the walls of this holy city and, with their leader shot dead early on, they brought death and destruction to the city on an epic scale. Later writers compared it to the fall of Carthage or Jerusalem and soon the mass murder, torture, rape and looting were followed by disease which was worsened by starvation and opened graves. It has been called the end of the High Renaissance, a conflict between north and south, between Lutherans and Catholics, and a fulfilment of prophecy of divine vengeance and, perhaps more persuasively, a consequence of military leaders not feeding or paying their soldiers other than by looting.
With
Stephen Bowd
Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Edinburgh
Jessica Goethals
Associate Professor of Italian at the University of Alabama
And
Catherine Fletcher
Professor of History at Manchester Metropolitan University
Producer: Simon Tillotson
Reading list:
Stephen Bowd, Renaissance Mass Murder: Civilians and Soldiers during the Italian Wars (Oxford University Press, 2018)
Benvenuto Cellini, Autobiography (Penguin Classics, 1999)
Benvenuto Cellini (trans. Julia Conaway Bondanella and Peter Bondanella), My Life (Oxford University Press, 2009)
André Chastel (trans. Beth Archer), The Sack of Rome 1527 (Princeton University Press, 1983
Catherine Fletcher, The Beauty and the Terror: An Alternative History of the Italian Renaissance (Bodley Head, 2020)
Kenneth Gouwens and Sheryl E. Reiss (eds), The Pontificate of Clement VII: History, Politics, Culture (Routledge, 2005)
Francesco Guicciardini (trans. Sidney Alexander), The History of Italy (first published 1561; Princeton University Press, 2020)
Luigi Guicciardini (trans. James H. McGregor), The Sack of Rome (first published 1537; Italica Press, 2008)
Judith Hook, The Sack of Rome (2nd edition, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004)
Geoffrey Parker, Emperor: A New Life of Charles V (Yale University Press, 2019)
In Our Time 
