As a scholar of Early Modern European History with a focus on the Renaissance, I enjoy most this quote from Pico’s daring thesis on humanism. In a short tract, the author manages to capture the spirit of Renaissance Europe; the belief that man is not constrained by archaic precepts, but is free to pursue greatness in the form of intellectual and humane endeavors. This piece has since been called the “Manifesto of the Renaissance.” I appreciate not only the humanistic content, which was so revolutionary for its time, but also the bravery it took to share it with the medieval world. Pope Innocent VIII banned its reading, calling for an investigation into its purported heresy.
Hobbies
I am historical fiction novelist, and therefore spend my free time writing adventure novels set in Renaissance Europe. Much of my time is consumed by digging through archives, ranging from pedantic Victorian travelogues and real estate inventories to 500-year-old letters housed in the Vatican collection. Though it can sometimes be grueling, there is nothing I love more than researching an obscure topic, even if what I find never makes it into the book I am writing. I am committed to historical accuracy, not only in the minute details of medieval daily life, but also the philosophical and social perspectives of my characters.