William E. Wallace (1) (1952–)

In this informative and fast paced biography of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. We learn about his life, his family, his relationships with other artists and patrons, his friends, some of the politics occuring in Rome and Florence during his lifetime, and something of his projects and poetry. Wallace has reserarched his subject extensively and makes use of (and quotes) many of Michelangelo's personal letters. However, Wallace doesn't not elaborate on any methods or techniques Michelangelo made use of during his many projects. I would also have liked more detail on how Michelangelo dealt with all his commissions, assistants and actualy physicaly work.

The book includes 10 colour photographs of Michelangelo's works, but it would have been more helpful if the author had included photos of all the works discussed in the book so the reader could see what he was talking about. The book also includes a list of all the popes during Michelangelo's lifetime, as well as a "cast of principle characters" which is useful since a great many people have the same first name.

This biography is accessible, informative and makes a good introduction to the subject.

OTHER BOOKS

-Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King
-Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King… (altro)

Two really great novellas that are definitely worth dipping into. Wallace takes the reader into the dilapidated world of dive bars, drunks on benders, desperate losers at the end of their ropes, and on the way, he throws in everything from armed patrols in Afghanistan, to teenage gangbangers, to Deadly diseases, to loneliness, and shut-ins and veteran's care. What strikes me about these stories is that they are not merely crime fiction stories, but actually are so much more literary in scope and delivery.… (altro)

If you like gritty crime fiction, you just hit the mother lode itself. This is the pure stuff. Accept no substitutes. Fast-paced and nasty. Every single song in this album is a hit. There are no fillers, no byproducts.

The tales here are filled with inked ex-cons, prison breaks, robberies gone bad, Barroom brawls, cons, bad luck robberies that end do twisted, all manner of goons. This all takes place in the republic of California but not in yuppie vile. In the seedy bars, dives, cheap motels of Union City, Tracy, Vacaville, and the like.… (altro)