Fortune is a River: Leonardo Da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli's Magnificent Dream to Change the Course of Florentine History

I have for some time been interested in the relationships between Leonardo Da Vinci, Machiavelli and Ceasare Borgia, and this work brings those characters to life in an enlightening and interesting interpretation of an historical event that resulted in a monumental failure. It illustrates the human side to genius and is a fascinating look at the politics of Florence and surrounding environs during the early 16th century. It is considerably more fun to read than most history books I have encountered. Thank you Dr. Masters.

Fortune Is A River: Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli's Magnificent Dream to Change the Course of Florentine History by Roger D Masters, is an excellent non-fiction book.Before I read this I'd had no idea they even knew each other. This is really two biographies in one volume, although it seemed to give more emphasis to Machiavelli, and deals for the most part with a small part of their lives.The controversial part of this is the dispassionate approach taken to these characters, and showing them in a new light which may conflict with the usual tired old ways.Yes, da Vinci was ahead of his time, yes, he was a master of many arts and sciences, but he was also a failure at almost everything he ever did.Yes, Machiavelli was the quintessential politician, yes, he may have been an atheist for all practical purposes, but he acted in accordance with a system of political ethics (jumbo shrimp?) and tried to do his best for his city whether it was his beloved republic or some sort of aristocratic or oligarchic state.Masters writes well about several difficult subjects in this one volume. I was very impressed with all of it.

this book has been sitting on my shelf for months until I finally picked it up and started reading. I finished the book rather quickly as the content is very interesting. I found the chapters on Leonardo especially well written. Three quarters of the way through, though, I realized that I had finished the book and the remaining pages were actually notes and credits. It's a good read from start to finish and a good high level view of the topic for anyone interested in this period of Italian history. The notes are lengthy and would lead the reader into further depth if so desired. I found the book to be almost like a fiction in it's presentation and that kept my interest as history books in general do not.

This is a beautifully written account of the meeting and connection of Leonardo and Machievelli which reveals facets of their lives and work heretofore unknown. It is based on punctilious and exhaustive scholarship and is given to the reader with warmth and clarity. It also underscores the practicality of Leonardo - who was after all a military engineer as well as remarkable artist - and Machiavelli who was an intense idealist about Florentine politics as well as a direct commentator on the human political condition.This is a wonderful book.

Starting from the unlikely perspective of a little known (perhaps because unsuccessful) collaboration between two of the greatest minds of the Renaissance to divert the course of the Arno River, Masters depicts the whole of 15th century Florentine life and unearths the themes that shaped Western Civilization. Besides the biographies of two fascinating men, he explores social mores, religious practice, hydraulic engineering, painting (fresco and canvas), music, literature, politics, the effect of illegitimacy on career opportunities and the economic, social, and psychological effects of the discovery of the New World. And that's only in the first two chapters! Painstakingly researched and beautifully written, this book should be read by anyone who wants to know how our culture came to be what it is. It suffers only from poor proofreading, and even that is compensated for by its magnificent typography. Don't be put off if I make it sound high-brow--it's not. It's highly readable, with fascinating, vivid characters who are amazingly similar to us, both in their lofty goals and in their all-too-human failings.