The second essay, 'The Quest for Knowledge,"tells us in fascinating detail much
about the conditions of intellectual life in the Renaissance, especially what, why, and
how people learned. The third essay, "The Quest for Beauty," primarily concerns itself
with the differencesbetween the art of the North and that of Italy. "The Quest for God"
gives us an intimate look at the religious life of the period. The final essay, 'The
Renaissance Merchant,"although overworking the idea of a rising middle class, like the
others does a good deal to remind us how many things were different in the sixteenth
century and to explain why.
Originally published in the 1920's, the essays for the most part are timeless and
thanks to Marion Rothstein'ssuperb rendering are as fresh now in English as they were
then in French. She has succeeded in the difficulttask of capturing a great and unique
historical style and presenting it to a new and different audience. Febvre's words live
well in English and are a pleasure to savor again for those who have also read the
French.
Life in Renaissance France will not only appeal to those who already love history,
but, equally crucial, it will be enjoyed by those who are beginning to develop their
appreciation of Clio's discipline. Chauvinistically, I have read few sociologists or psy-
chologists who have captured life as well. I believe it can be read by even beginning
students in college surveys as well as upper-division courses on Renaissance-Early
Modern France. Instructorsof undergraduate and graduate courses on historiography
will delight in having such an affordable and readable sample of Annales writing
available to them. Even those who cannot use it as a requiredtext will findit pleasurable
backgroundreading. Doubtlessly,many history lectures will be spiced up nicely by some
generous quotations from Febvre in Rothstein. Merci beaucoup.