[.ca] Fortune Is a River: Ceonardo Da Vinci and Niccolo ... (ISBN 0684844524)

From Amazon.com:
History is sometimes made by seemingly insignificant moments that turn out to have been pivotal in hindsight--and sometimes what didn't happen proves to be as important as what did. One such moment came in the Florentine court of Cesare Borgia, when a civil servant named Niccolò Machiavelli recruited a local engineer named Leonardo da Vinci to devise a plan to change the course of the Arno River. Diverting that river, Machiavelli reasoned, would deprive Florence's enemy, the nearby city-state of Pisa, of a dependable water supply. It would also make the Arno River navigable for oceangoing vessels from the inland city of Florence, and as an added incentive, would help limit damage caused by the flood-prone Arno to the surrounding farmlands. Machiavelli and da Vinci devised a hydrological plan for the river that was extraordinarily promising, at least on paper. The flood-prone Arno, however, made the task an impossible challenge. The pair's chances of success were further reduced by poor design, bad timing, and undisciplined workers. Their failure brought official disfavor on Machiavelli and da Vinci alike. Leonardo transferred his studio to Milan and then Rome, where he would produce remarkable work, while Machiavelli retreated from public life for a time and used his forced leisure to write The Prince. Roger Masters crafts an epic tale out of a historical footnote. Although some of his conclusions are speculative in regards to Niccolò's and Leonardo's relationship, readers will likely find his narrative persuasive and deeply informed.

Two, Two, Two Bios in One:
Fortune Is A River: Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli's Magnificent Dream to Change the Course of Florentine History by Roger D Masters, is an excellent non-fiction book. Before I read this I'd had no idea they even knew each other. This is really two biographies in one volume, although it seemed to give more emphasis to Machiavelli, and deals for the most part with a small part of their lives. The controversial part of this is the dispassionate approach taken to these characters, and showing them in a new light which may conflict with the usual tired old ways. Yes, da Vinci was ahead of his time, yes, he was a master of many arts and sciences, but he was also a failure at almost everything he ever did. Yes, Machiavelli was the quintessential politician, yes, he may have been an atheist for all practical purposes, but he acted in accordance with a system of political ethics (jumbo shrimp?) and tried to do his best for his city whether it was his beloved republic or some sort of aristocratic or oligarchic state. Masters writes well about several difficult subjects in this one volume. I was very impressed with all of it.

Over-rated:
The premise of the book is quite interesting...a synergistic interaction between Machiavelli and DaVinci. Put simply, the book falls flat. The first half of the book develops the reader's interest by providing details about the war and the 2 principles. One awaits the promised intercourse, only to find that the potentially exciting 'magnificent dream' was a weakly presented proposal and that DaVinci and Machiavelli never had a meaningful interaction. Overrated, period.

Different View:
This book offers a totally different historical view of Machiavelli and Da Vinci. During the reading of this, they became very real, very human, to me. Masters writes rather well, though he can't seem to make up his mind if he wants to call them by their surnames or their first names. The switching back and forth becomes distracting at times. It was fascinating to read about two such powerful, influential figures working on such a doomed project. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Da Vinci or Machiavelli, or in the history of Florence.

A fascinating collaboration:
I have for some time been interested in the relationships between Leonardo Da Vinci, Machiavelli and Ceasare Borgia, and this work brings those characters to life in an enlightening and interesting interpretation of an historical event that resulted in a monumental failure. It illustrates the human side to genius and is a fascinating look at the politics of Florence and surrounding environs during the early 16th century. It is considerably more fun to read than most history books I have encountered. Thank you Dr. Masters.

"Soft" history, but entertaining:
No historical scholar would mistake Masters's book for serious academic research. His thesis, while engaging, is never supported except by the most circumstantial of evidence. He failed to convince me the two men had even heard of each other, let alone concoct such a fantastic plot together. Nonetheless, the book is a good overview of the politics of the Italian Renaissance for the layperson. You're introduced to the movers and shakers of the age and told what they did in a very accesible, narrative style. The premise of Machiavelli and Da Vinci's collaboration, while likely fictional, does make for interesting reading. This book is great inspiration for a novel of alternative history, but look harder if you want the actual history.