History of the Florentine People, Volume 1, Books I-IV

Leonardo Bruni

Edited and translated by James Hankins

    Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444), the leading civic humanist of the Italian Renaissance, served as apostolic secretary to four popes (1405-1414) and chancellor of Florence (1427-1444). He was famous in his day as a translator, orator, and historian, and was the best-selling author of the fifteenth century. Bruni's History of the Florentine People in twelve books is generally considered the first modern work of history, and was widely imitated by humanist historians for two centuries after its official publication by the Florentine Signoria in 1442. This edition makes it available for the first time in English translation.
  • Cover: History of the Florentine People, Volume 1, Books I-IV
  • A photo of the author

James Hankins is Professor of History, Harvard University. He is the General Editor of the I Tatti Renaissance Library.