Review by Choice Review
Historians have increasingly retreated from characterizing the Renaissance as secular on the basis of solid monographs, such as this work, that highlight the religiosity of the intellectual elite during the pre-Reformation era. Frazier (Univ. of Texas) focuses on the extent, variety, and importance of hagiographical writings by Quattrocento humanists. The amount of saintly vitae and passiones is demonstrated by an extensive and impressive handlist (about a third of the book) of the pertinent manuscripts and incunabula appearing between 1420 and 1521. In the remainder of the book, Frazier analyzes how Italian hagiographers, conscious of the past, experimented with structure and content in addressing the new concerns raised by the studia humanitatis. The discussion of the significance of Quattrocento hagiography is the weakest portion of the book. The author's suggestion of a "hagiographic Renaissance"--honestly admitted as based primarily on the number of humanist vitae produced--remains unconvincing, especially since most of the writers discussed are relatively unknown and their productions lacking in contemporaneous influence. In sum, although only hagiologists will be interested in this title, such readers will be amply rewarded with a work that is both useful and scholarly. ^BSumming Up: Optional. Faculty and researchers. R. T. Ingoglia Felician College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
