The city of Florence is idealized by many as the cradle of the Renaissance, a place of art and beauty ruled by enlightened men. Najemy (history, Cornell University) acknowledges the allure of Florence but reminds the reader that the families who supported the arts were also politicians. In the almost four-hundred year span of this book, Najemy takes Florence from a republic ruled by an oligarchy to a Medici princedom in all but name, through anarchy and the theocracy of Savonarola and back to a quasi-republic and a Medici resurgence. The importance of family alliances among the elite is a continuing thread but Najemy also emphasizes the role of the populace in the politics of Florence. This is a fine balance to art histories that only see Lorenzo de Medici as a magnificent patron and ignoring the intrigues and plots that kept him in power and made the art possible. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)