Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

This is a great book, a great deal of fun and exciting to read. However, the Kindle edition is missing important parts of the book. I was reading book 2 Chapter IV of the Kindle edition and the story simply did not make any sense. So I checked a print edition by the same translator. Three paragraphs had been omitted from the beginning of this chapter. I began to wonder what else might be missing. I checked a earlier spot that had been a bit confusing and found that in Book 1, the beginning of chapter cxxviii had been left out and the poem that makes up the rest of that chapter had been added to the end of chapter cxxvii with eight stanzas missing, which made the poem unintelligible. So there was no chapter cxxviii. I carried on with the print edition from there on out, so I can't tell you what else was missing both before and after that point.The book contains many footnotes, In the print edition they are on the bottom of the page where they occur. In the Kindle edition they are at the end of the chapter and putting them there makes it difficult to connect the footnote with its reference. So you are obliged to go past several passages without understanding them fully and then when you finally come to the footnotes at the end of the chapter, you have to go through a good deal of effort to go back to see what the footnote refers to.DO NOT TRUST THIS EDITION. It is carelessly converted to Kindle and it is not complete. It will only confuse and frustrate you. Amazon should remove this from the site and give everyone who dot it a free pass to a complete edition of the book for kindle.

Sculptor and goldsmith to Popes, Cardinals and Kings, Cellini pulls no punches in describing the villainous treachery and petty ways ofthe holier-than-thou crowd. Popes come off as easily influenced tyrants and Cardinals fare no better-just a bunch of schemingsocial climbers. No saint himself, Cellini goes to great pains in detailing the many travails he was put through by envious, jealous,less talented individuals in positions of power. A true Alpha Male before anyone thought of the term, Cellini is a lusty, robust rascalwho suffers no slights or intimidations; of which there are a never ending litany to keep him busy defending his honor. Murderousfights are not uncommon throughout the book and the action keeps the reader involved. Cellini knew Michelangelo and Vasari amongmany other of Italy's incredible wealth of talent and he has opinions and descriptions of all he came in contact with. This book is a mustfor any art lover or history buff.

For anyone at all interested or curious about the minutiae of life in the Times of Michelangelo & Leonardo, this is Required, and Tedious Reading. It is most telling perhaps that this book has not been turned into a film, while many lesser works, of course, have.Having the book read to you by a mechanical servant, perhaps only adds to the agony, by leading one to believe that while listening to this manuscript, ones time might be better spent with some additional task, but then realizing that several pages, or chapters have slipped by while one was in a daze, or napping perhaps! Should those pages be revisited?I have ostensibly read this book twice now, and retain only snippets of its content, perhaps if it were made into a colourful and augmented graphic novel, it would be more bearable ( ? )

Enjoyed. Thank you!!

This is not the most entertaining book;however, it is the only autobiography of the Renaissance period. Thus, it has immeasurable information and a feel of the time from the point of view of a truly egocentric genius.

One of the great autobiographies. How a genius thinks, feels and works - and the obstacles they face! A classic

My title says it all. Here is a autobiography of Mr. perfect. He may have been a great sculptor and craftsman, but in his estimation no one is better. Gets boring after a while and I can only read it for short periods of time.

it is not only a breath-taking account of the life of an artist and adventurer but also an enlightening meditation of the way of the world. It is an excellent work of art.

Arrived in time. Very interesting book.

I read this book over forty years ago and to download it now for free is one of the real benefits of my Kindle. The mix of adventure, boasting, self promotion and genuine artistic genius is very entertaining - even if it is over 400 years old.

This is an amazing story. I think it is fascinating, and I buy it as a gift for every friend I think would like it. But this edition has an unusual wide format and a large number of notes that detract from the flow of the story. There is no introduction that puts Cellini's life in context. It put me off and I wouldn't order this version again.

Wonderful self-bragging account of Cellini's life - he appears to have the personal ear of all the headfs of state, single-handly saved Rome, and clearly has the biggest ego there is. A rip-roaring read, but after a time the 'I did this ..... and it was wonderful' is a ltttle wearing!

If there were a prize for blowing one's own trumpet then Cellini would win it with ease. A fascinating insight into Italian Renaissance life and art, and into the psyche of a craftsman of genius.