Michelangelo

“Provides insightful perspective on Michelangelo… . [Michelangelo] made some of the most enduring art in Western civilization and profoundly changed the way we think about artists. Thoughtful exploration of his work, which this book most definitely is, will always be rewarding.” – Travis Nichols * The Washington Post *
“A deeply human tribute to one of the most accomplished and fascinating figures in the history of Western culture.” – Michael Washburn * The Boston Globe *
“A masterful portrait of a dauntingly complex figure.” * Booklist (starred review) *
“Unger is an astute critic and an able storyteller; his remapping of familiar territory should please both readers new to Michelangelo and those who think they know him inside out.” – Ann Landi * ArtNews *
“Wonderfully perceptive art history embedded in a fascinating life story and delivered via Unger’s supple and exquisite prose.” – Tony Lewis * The Providence Journal *
“Part biography, part art analysis and thoroughly tantalizing. By focusing on six works, presented in chronological order, Unger presents a portrait of the artist that gives a panoramic view of Michelangelo’s life but also focuses keenly on putting the artwork itself in context, giving readers the whys and wherefores that provide a rich, provocative understanding.” – Catherine Mallette * The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth) *
”[Unger] is also an engaging writer and has chosen his illustrative examples well… . [His] critical remarks … are especially lithe and discerning… . An elegant introduction, and the approach, of singling out a handful of representative works for microscopic scrutiny and macroscopic discussion, makes the subject accessible to a wide audience.” – Earl Pike * The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) *
“Magisterial… . This fascinating new biography is highly recommended as a guide to anyone seeking to understand the immortal works of art created by this singular man.” – Catherine Hollis * BookPage *
“Unger insightfully guides readers through both Michelangelo’s life and the culture and history of the times… . [He] displays keen, humane judgments in interpreting Michelangelo’s life by focusing on his motives and talent. The artist’s life was complicated, but Unger finds a narrative path that keeps the reader on course for an enlightened biography.” – David Hendricks * San Antonio Express *
“Unger excels at showing us the artist at work: his reluctance, his caginess, his temperament (easily hurt and angered, he sometimes tried to run away) and his jealousies (da Vinci and Raphael among them)… . His edged prose shows us a clear Michelangelo emerging from the stone of history.” * Kirkus (starred review) *
“This may be the one indispensable guide for encountering the artist on his home turf. There are hundreds of books about Michelangelo di Lodovico di Buonarroti Simone, his art and his times. But few bring it all together in such an entertaining and enlightening whole.” – Bill Marvel * Dallas Morning News *

Miles J. Unger writes on art, books, and culture for The Economist. Formerly the managing editor of Art New England, he was a contributing writer to The New York Times. He is the author of Picasso and the Painting That Shocked the World; The Watercolors of Winslow Homer; Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de’ Medici; Machiavelli: A Biography; and Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces.

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