Summary of Stephen J. Greenblatt's The Swerve

Everest Media

Description

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.
Sample Book Insights:
#1 Poggio was a baffling figure to those who saw him pass. He was barely legible, and what mattered was what you belonged to or even whom you belonged to.
#2 The Roman world was a society of retainers and armed guards. The stranger, simply attired, rode in the company of a single companion. When they stopped at inns, the companion did the ordering, and when the master spoke, it became clear that he knew little or no German.
#3 The book hunter Poggio was not a priest or a theologian, but he was looking for old manuscripts. He wanted to see what was written on them, even if the writing was difficult and crabbed. He was most interested in manuscripts that were four or five hundred years old, going back to the tenth century.
#4 The pope who had called himself John XXIII was deposed in 1417. Poggio, his erstwhile apostolic secretary, was now a masterless man.

Sujets

• renaissance

Informations

• Publié par: Everest Media LLC
• Date de parution: 28 mars 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669372738
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Insights on Stephen J. Greenblatt's The Swerve
Contents Insights from Chapter 1 Insights from Chapter 2 Insights from Chapter 3 Insights from Chapter 4 Insights from Chapter 5 Insights from Chapter 6 Insights from Chapter 7 Insights from Chapter 8 Insights from Chapter 9 Insights from Chapter 10
Insights from Chapter 1

#1

Poggio was a baffling figure to those who saw him pass. He was barely legible, and what mattered was what you belonged to or even whom you belonged to.

#2

The Roman world was a society of retainers and armed guards. The stranger, simply attired, rode in the company of a single companion. When they stopped at inns, the companion did the ordering, and when the master spoke, it became clear that he knew little or no German.

#3

The book hunter Poggio was not a priest or a theologian, but he was looking for old manuscripts. He wanted to see what was written on them, even if the writing was difficult and crabbed. He was most interested in manuscripts that were four or five hundred years old, going back to the tenth century.

#4

The pope who had called himself John XXIII was deposed in 1417. Poggio, his erstwhile apostolic secretary, was now a masterless man.

#5

The position of secretary to the pope was a lucrative one, and many sought to catch Poggio’s eye. But by the 1450s, his income had ceased. He had acquired several farms, 19 separate pieces of land, and two houses in Florence.

#6

Poggio, however, did not immediately return to Italy. Instead, he went book-hunting. He spent months searching for a position, and when that didn’t work, he spent months searching for books.
Insights from Chapter 2

#1

The humanists, who were devoted to the study of the humanities, knew that many once famous books were still missing. They suspected that other books, perhaps many books, were hidden away in dark places.

#2

The Rule required monks to read, and it called for careful supervision to make sure they did so. If they were distracted, bored, or depressed, they would be forced to read.

#3

The Benedictine Rule required reading aloud at meals, and Benedict was aware that for some brothers this would cause pride. He wanted to prevent these readings from provoking discussion or debate.

#4

The monks were the primary readers and book producers of the Western world. They were also the ones who required and recommended reading, which led to a commercial book market.

#5

The monks were not willing to let their books out of their sight, and they would try to protect them with curses. If that didn’t work, they would try to steal them.

#6

Poggio was a superbly well-trained scribe, with exceptionally fine handwriting, great powers of concentration, and a high degree of accuracy. He was able to copy the monastery’s valuable manuscripts and send the results back to humanists waiting eagerly at home in Italy.

#7

In 1417, Poggio the book hunter had the perfect conjunction of time, skills, and desire. He was able to travel and find money to pay for it. He was also supported by rich friends at home who shared his passion for the ancient world.

#8

The two friends went their separate ways. Poggio went north, and Bartolomeo went south. They had planned to find a vast trove of ancient books buried in the mountains, but they only found a couple of minor ones.

#9

Poggio knew many monks, and he found them to be superstitious, ignorant, and hopelessly lazy. He thought that monasteries were the dumping grounds for those deemed unfit for life in the world.