“The existence of so many different sovereign units in Italy made wars so frequent that warfare almost seemed a permanent state. Throughout the Middle Ages neighboring towns fought each other. Alliances of towns fought each other. Local barons, land—and power—hungry adventurers, Moslem raiders, mercenary captains, German and French invaders, and bloodthirsty factions within each city all contributed to the hell's broth of boiling warfare.”
Prescott’s narrative about the lives, personalities and public careers of the rulers who fought and conquered, schemed and betrayed Italy for five hundred years—emperors, kings, warriors, tyrants and popes.
New York et al: Harper & Row, 1972. First edition, first printing. Hardcover. Octavo. 366 pages. Dust jacket in very good condition and in protector. Boards clean and bright with some bumping to corners. Slight crushing at spine ends. Binding tight and square. Pages clear. Beautiful copy.
