A book to read

I would recommend the book The Stones of Florence by Mary McCarthy for a concise and relevant history of Florence and of the Florentine people. The book doesn’t romanticize the city, but instead creates a true sense of this historical place, the people who live here, the tourists who come here, and the city’s struggle to become part of the twenty-first century when the outside world who loves it refuses to let it change. McCarthy gives a detailed history of the city from its beginings and in doing so gives the reader a greater sense of the city today. A little outdated but still relevant. Florence is much more than a back drop for tourists on holiday, it is a city of dark secrets and a complicated past. You will enjoy the city more when you understand what you are seeing and this is a preferable alternative to picking up an 800 page history book.