Play Audiobook Sample
The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.00) - 27,358 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
This is Irving Stone's powerful and passionate biographical novel of Michelangelo. His time: the turbulent Renaissance, the years of poisoning princes, warring popes, the all-powerful Medici family, the fanatic monk Savonarola. His loves: the frail and lovely daughter of Lorenzo de Medici; the ardent mistress of Marco Aldovrandi; and his last love--his greatest love--the beautiful, unhappy Vittoria Colonna. His genius: a God-driven fury from which he wrested the greatest art the world has ever known. Michelangelo Buonarotti, creator of "David", painter of the Sistine ceiling, architect of the dome of St Peter's, lives once more in Irving Stone's marvellous book.
Download and start listening now!
"I know its weird to not finish a book but then rate it highly anyway. But I was reading this while in Italy and it enriched my experience so much that I had to give it some love... I read a bit over half of it (its long, though not slow), and finished shortly after he sculpts the David. The attention to detail here is astounding -- you can almost geek out just as much about Irving Stone's research skills than at Michelangelo's life. Stone translated hundreds of letters, moved to Italy for a few years, apprenticed at a marble cutters so he could get the feel to be authentic in his prose. Pretty impressive, and the type of research Stone apparently often did for his novels. Anyway visiting or thinking of visiting Florence should pick up this book."
— Nate (5 out of 5 stars)
The Agony and the Ecstasy Listener Reviews
-
" I simply loved this book. It was beautifully narrated and would highly recommend it! "
— Gerhard, 11/12/2018 -
" Just re-read, while visiting Florence..I still loved it "
— Patricia, 2/4/2014 -
" I read this for extra credit in high school. Only later did I learn there was a film which might have helped me more...but it was a decent book. It dragged in parts, but there was quite a bit of drama between Michelangelo and the various popes. Frustrated and demanding artist vs. even more demanding and egomaniacal religious figures. "
— Aaron, 2/3/2014 -
" It took me long time to read this, but it was great. I went to Europe shortly after and saw several of Michelangelo's sculptures. It gave me a whole new respect for him as an artist. Definately worth reading "
— Shelly, 1/31/2014 -
" I read this book first as a college student in the late 1960s in a Reader's Digest Condensed Book format and really enjoyed it. It needed a lot of condensing because the "real" book is close to 800 pages long. After my trip to Italy--to Rome and Florence--last March, I was inspired to order a copy and finally managed to read it all. I learned a lot about Michelangelo and his contemporaries and wished that I had read the book prior to my trip. Stone's research was amazing. "
— Elizabeth, 1/30/2014 -
" This was a really good read. I enjoyed it. "
— Kaylon, 1/28/2014 -
" I loved this book. I think all artists should read it. "
— Mario, 1/26/2014 -
" Excellent historical fiction. Well worth the read - both a great story w/good background history. "
— Daphne, 1/24/2014 -
" A wonderful insight in the life of a genius. "
— Fernanda, 1/21/2014 -
" This was a tough read in high School but i really learned a lot from this story. "
— Knottybear, 1/17/2014 -
" Such an intimate look at the life of Michaelangelo. A little slow, but so amazing! "
— Nanette, 12/31/2013 -
" My choice for MOST BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BOOK "
— Laura, 12/25/2013 -
" This was good, but I stopped in the middle to read another quick read and then was never able to get back into it. It was hard to follow all of the similar names especially after putting it down for a while. I think I would have really enjoyed it if I'd read it entirely through without a break. "
— Miriam, 11/4/2013 -
" I have read this book many times and it inspires me to create every time. The first reading encouraged me to pick up a hammer and chisel, and I have been carving stone ever since. "
— Mike, 8/22/2013 -
" A definite must before you go to Italy. Great book! "
— Diane, 8/3/2013 -
" aIt's about michaelangelo enough said. "
— Dawn, 7/31/2013 -
" Reading this book made me love Renaissance art. Words worth a thousand pictures. "
— Brenda, 7/20/2013 -
" This book was a great read. I learned so much about Italy and their city-states as well as the art of Michelangelo and the dynamics of his life and environment. Well worth the effort and time that it takes to read a 700+ page book. "
— Camille, 7/9/2013 -
" Another favourite from my youth - brilliant "
— Jo, 5/29/2013 -
" I read this while in Europe and it was a wonderful fictional biography to give you a glimpse of the life of a Renaissance artist like Michelangelo. Whose David and Pieta are two of the most beautiful artworks ever created in my opinion. "
— Ty, 5/7/2013 -
" I liked this book. But probably not enough that I'd have read it had I realized at the outset that that innocent looking paperback was about 770 pages long! That said, I am now really interested to see some of Michelangelo's work! That makes it kind of cool. :) "
— melody, 3/26/2013 -
" I loved this book. I really enjoyed Irving Stone's biography of one of the world's most famous artists, Michelangelo. It told of his passion and his God-driven fury to create some of the greatest art ever known. I thought it was inspiring. It is a long book, but worth the time. "
— Janie, 3/1/2013 -
" My most favorite book ever! "
— Jeanine, 1/4/2013 -
" Lovely details about Michael Angelo and his works. Story is not fascinating, historical details are. "
— Holly, 12/9/2012 -
" I LOVED this book! It had beautiful writing, and I sincerly enjoyed learning about Michelangelo. What a great insite into the mind and heart of an artist. It definitly made me appreciate art more. So so good. "
— Lanita, 10/27/2012 -
" Read this awhile ago, but greatly enjoyed it. "
— Krista, 10/18/2012 -
" Long book to get through but worth it. Now I can't wait to go to Florence!! "
— Judy, 8/10/2012 -
" Close to 5 stars! "
— Bella, 3/25/2012
About Irving Stone
Irving Stone (1903–1989) took his place as the world-acknowledged master of the biographical novel with the publication of Lust for Life. Tremendous subsequent successes such as The Agony and the Ecstasy, Passions of the Mind, and The Origin, to name but a few, have achieved the rare combination of bestselling popularity and high critical success.
About Arthur Morey
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.