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The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Audiobook
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(3.90) - 20 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A master Italian sculptor, goldsmith, and writer, Benvenuto Cellini is best remembered for his magnificent autobiography. In this work, which was begun in 1558 but not published until 1730, Cellini beautifully chronicles his own flamboyant times. He tells of his adventures in Italy and France and his relations with popes, kings, and fellow artists. From Florence and Pisa to Siena and Rome, Cellini portrays a tumultuous period—the age of Galileo, Michelangelo, and de Medicis—with an artist’s eye for detail and a curmudgeon’s propensity for criticism. Cellini, according to himself, seems to have lived a very full life, and his account of his exploits, though grandiloquent and somewhat suspect, are always entertaining. Historians have considered this work as a prime example of the emergence of modern individualism during the Renaissance.
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"This book is incredible fun! If you enjoy medieval art and history you must absolutely read this book. An artist, a fighter, one intrigued by the occult, you name it you really have it all in this book. He really lived an amazing life no wonder his story still intrigues us today! "
— Aaron (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Whitfield brings Cellini's autobiography to life, fluently rolling Italian and English words off his tongue and capturing the flavor of the tale…The minute details recounted by Cellini are gracefully read by Whitfield, who breathes life into this fascinating autobiography.”
— AudioFile -
"Chronicles with unflagging energy and force one of the most tempestuous lives and one of the largest egos in all of history…The vigorous translation is superbly realized by British narrator Robert Whitfield, successfully bringing to tape Cellini's unforgettable story."
— Library Journal
The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Listener Reviews
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" Oh Cellini you cad! Psh this is just hilarious. What better way to expose your foibles than an autobiography. "
— Cassandra, 5/24/2011 -
" wonderful book, a slice of history from a personal point of view. Mine was published by Phaidon, and Translated by John Addington Symonds with introduction and notes by John Pope-Hennessy. Good description of casting bronze and the culture of patronage. "
— Sydney, 3/10/2011 -
" The Popes come across as selfish and greedy. Cellini's entire society sounds Martian compared to today. The man himself is vain and hot-tempered, but he was an artist amongst artists. "
— Joel, 3/1/2011 -
" This is a firsthand account of life in high renaissance Italy, albeit fattened with hyperbolic bravado. "
— Jim, 11/27/2010 -
" It's always fascinating to read the words of long dead ancients, but unfortunately hyperbole and braggadocio seems to have been a Cellini hobby, which destroys any sense of history coming to life. "
— Molly, 7/25/2010 -
" I think this may be the best autobiography ever, or at least up there in the top few. To see how the church lorded over everyone and how power and religion worked together to keep regular people down is worth the read. It's a lesson that keeps needing to be learned. "
— Jimmy, 6/16/2010 -
" Very entertaining, but, man, was this guy a jerk. "
— Redsteve, 1/30/2010 -
" Could definitely benefit from some chapter breaks. I'll admit I probably would have quit reading it in the middle if I didn't have to write a paper on it. I'm glad I did read it though, Cellini is a self-involved asshole and it is very entertaining to make fun of him. "
— Ivana, 10/10/2009 -
" If you want people to be reading your autobiography almost more than five hundred years later, write as entertaining a book as this one. A treasure. "
— Jay, 9/2/2009
About Benvenuto Cellini
Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, painter, soldier, and musician who is best known for his famous autobiography. He was also an influential artist during the Mannerism movement.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.