Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces Hardcover – July 22, 2014

*Starred Review* In Michelangelo, the poet Ludovico Ariosto saw an “angel divine.” The Michelangelo whom Unger delivers in this probing biography is no angel but, rather, a fallible, even devious man. But he does evince powers not previously seen among mere human beings in the way he defies the limits that previously circumscribed the role of the artist. Readers watch this multifaceted genius acquire these powers as the bold young sculptor of the Pieta matures—dazzling Rome with his David, stunning the Vatican with his Sistine Chapel Creation, baffling his rich patrons with his daringly innovative Medici tombs, and finally overwhelming the ecclesiastical hierarchy with his anarchic Last Judgment. But the creative feat that unifies this string of masterpieces is Michelangelo’s forging of an entirely new conception of the artist. No longer just a craftsman intent on selling his skills, the artist that emerges in Michelangelo is a visionary insistent on his imaginative autonomy. Michelangelo thus fashions a dynamic new identity for the artist as a revolutionary, opening new vistas for an astonished society. Unger highlights Michelangelo’s singular achievement without glossing over the defects in his mercurial character—or obscuring the corruption and violence pervading his Renaissance world. A masterful portrait of a dauntingly complex figure. --Bryce Christensen

"A deeply human tribute to one of the most accomplished and fascinating figures in the history of Western culture." (Michael Washburn The Boston Globe)

“Provides insightful perspective on Michelangelo. . . . [Michelangelo] made some of the most enduring art in Western civilization and profoundly changed the way we think about artists. Thoughtful exploration of his work, which this book most definitely is, will always be rewarding." (Travis Nichols The Washington Post)

“Accessible and compelling. . . . Unger’s real focus is on how the political and ideological climate of Michelangelo’s day affected his art, and here he is authoritative and highly illuminating.” (Adam Kirsch Christian Science Monitor)

“Unger insightfully guides readers through both Michelangelo's life and the culture and history of the times. . . . [He] displays keen, humane judgments in interpreting Michelangelo's life by focusing on his motives and talent. The artist's life was complicated, but Unger finds a narrative path that keeps the reader on course for an enlightened biography.” (David Hendricks San Antonio Express)

“Unger is an astute critic and an able storyteller; his remapping of familiar territory should please both readers new to Michelangelo and those who think they know him inside out.” (Ann Landi ArtNews)

"This may be the one indispensable guide for encountering the artist on his home turf. There are hundreds of books about Michelangelo di Lodovico di Buonarroti Simone, his art and his times. But few bring it all together in such an entertaining and enlightening whole." (Bill Marvel The Dallas News)

“Highly readable. . . . [Unger] reminds readers why Michelangelo's work matters. . . . Delightfully informative.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A masterful portrait of a dauntingly complex figure.” (Booklist (starred review))

“Unger excels at showing us the artist at work: his reluctance, his caginess, his temperament (easily hurt and angered, he sometimes tried to run away) and his jealousies (da Vinci and Raphael among them). . . . His edged prose shows us a clear Michelangelo emerging from the stone of history.” (Kirkus (starred review))

“Unger has read extensively on each of the six creations in his focus, but more importantly, he’s also stepped back and looked at them, and that fresh outlook makes his book very lively reading. . . . It’s enormously intelligent and engaging contribution to the shelf and a perfect introduction to this most towering and problematic of all artists.” (Steve Donoghue Open Letters Monthly)

“Author Miles J. Unger states Michelangelo was 'the prototype of the temperamental genius, beholden to no one and responsible only to the dictates of his own inspiration'. . . . The heart of Michelangelo is a full portrayal of this fascinating character, but the book also devotes a full chapter to each of his most famous works.” (Helen Gallagher Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

"Mr. Unger is a good, popular art historian who understands the moods of the artist and his times." (The Economist)

“Part biography, part art analysis and thoroughly tantalizing. By focusing on six works, presented in chronological order, Unger presents a portrait of the artist that gives a panoramic view of Michelangelo’s life but also focuses keenly on putting the artwork itself in context, giving readers the whys and wherefores that provide a rich, provocative understanding.” (Catherine Mallette The Star-Telegram (Fort Worth))

“This may be the one indispensable guide for encountering the artist on his home turf. There are hundreds of books about Michelangelo di Lodovico di Buonarroti Simone, his art and his times. But few bring it all together in such an entertaining and enlightening whole.” (Bill Marvel Dallas Morning News)

“Magisterial. . . . This fascinating new biography is highly recommended as a guide to anyone seeking to understand the immortal works of art created by this singular man.” (Catherine Hollis BookPage)