Working on Warlord #4 now and it’s impossible to keep Florence from coloring every page.
A week in Tuscany was not enough. I learned more about the art and history of the Renaissance in that week than from all the studying I’ve ever done. I bought books at every museum and took hours of iPhone videos and hundreds of pics—which I never do.
The trip had nothing to do with research, but it turned into an amazing opportunity for that, since one of the themes within the Warlord series is an examination of governments acting in good and bad faith. The history of the Florentine oligarchy and its short-lived Republic is great inspiration, as is the genius of Machiavelli.
I’ve heard the so-called intelligentsia describe both Machiavelli and his work The Prince as evil. It’s not a how-to manual. It’s a guide to recognizing tyrants. Machiavelli wrote it as an act of satirical rebellion. Water from a clean well gives life to the good and bad alike, and for Warlord Benjamin Colt and Queen Talis Darmon, Machiavelli reached across time and space to provide them what they needed. If Ben Colt had brought a copy of Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy with him to Mars/Vistara, it sure would help in their current struggles.
I love Italy. Period. But Florence was an exhilarating experience whereas Rome was simply interesting. I’m fascinated by that period from the Punic Wars through the time of the Five Good Emperors, because there’s not one thing that’s happened in modern times that did not happen then. But for me, Rome didn’t hold a candle to Florence. I’m insane in the membrane to get back there.
It’s the only travel destination I ever recall not being ready to leave.
These pictures are truly amazing. It looks like you had a great time. Can't wait to see some of this make its way into the writing.