Alexander Lee: 39 books

**A fascinating and counterintuitive portrait of the sordid, hidden world behind the dazzling artwork of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and more ** Renowned as a period of cultural rebirth and artistic innovation, the Renaissance is cloaked in a unique aura of beauty and brilliance....

  《泰晤士報文學增刊》年度好書．義大利文藝復興史研究專家扛鼎力作 ** ** 史學家低調不談的文藝復興黑暗史 為你揭露精緻視覺藝術背後的權力、縱慾與腐敗邏輯。 ** ** ** ** 文藝復興被視為西方文化與藝術的黃金年代， 米開朗基羅、達文西、波提切利等英雄般的藝術家讓古典文化重生， 在如天堂般的城市創造出曠世傑作……   但真實的情況是： 漫步佛羅倫斯街頭時，可能會被住戶隨意傾倒的屎尿攻擊 藝術家創作的動力源自暴力、私慾、歧視與衝突 藝術贊助成為權力階級美化自我形象與贖罪的手段，品味最高的藝術鑑賞家，往往是當代最狡詐殘暴的人 教會利用「信仰」斂財，教會職位成為人們競相爭奪的肥缺，教廷成為家族企業 猶太教被視為否定基督神性的異端邪說，藝術家大展長才，在作品中鼓吹反猶太情結，致使社會氛圍充斥著徹底排斥，甚至殲滅猶太「威脅」的惡意。 傲慢的佛羅倫斯人無視義大利以外的世界，將土耳其人與穆斯林描述成天性邪惡、野蠻、殘暴的種族；至於大西洋的民族與土地，則完全不值得藝術圈著眼，攤開文藝復興時期的繪畫、雕塑與文學作品，地理大發現彷彿從未發生。   ◎要真正了解一個時代有多偉大，不能只看美好的一面   就史實的層面上來看，只看文化美好的一面，刻意忽略醜陋面是相當不妥的，因為這讓高雅文化與社會現況有了造作的區別；就人類的角度來看，這樣的傾向也剝奪掉這時期令人興奮、深切刻畫、真切的驚奇。既然藝術立基於人的創造力，就不能忽略隱藏在文藝復興神聖光環下，人性最真實的情感，無論美好或是醜陋。   「比起站在奧林帕斯山頂的天神以雲朵造出天使，身在陰溝底的人類不放棄仰望星空，才真正撼動人心。」──亞歷山大‧李（本書作者）   本書揭開過度崇高、神聖榮光的布幔，檢視藝術家日常生活最赤裸的一面，以及其身處的領域，如何混合著優雅與暴力、文化與苦難；執政者、銀行家與教會間的緊張關係、憤恨不平，如何化為文藝復興不可或缺的一部分；文藝復興時期的人，對於義大利以外的世界，又是如何的不理性與充滿偏見。   唯有能欣賞文藝復興時期失序醜陋的一面，才能讓文化成就的廣度更加清晰，才能真正領略藝術家與文學家能在這個充滿恐懼、苦難、歧視、與偏狹的時代，還能夠創作出如此傑作，直至今日仍令人大嘆其才華與美感，是如何不可思議的輝煌成就。     【國內外好評推薦】 ** ** 作家、知名節目主持人 謝哲青 「故事」網站主編...

Why do some states provide infrastructure and social services to their citizens, and others do not? In Development in Multiple Dimensions, Alexander Lee examines the origins of success and failure in the public services of developing countries. Comparing states within India, this study examines how...

Examinations of wargaming for entertainment, education, and military planning, in terms of design, critical analysis, and historical contexts. Games with military themes date back to antiquity, and yet they are curiously neglected in much of the academic and trade literature on games and game...

23 tempting romances from Sweet to Hot to downright Steamy! Whether your obsession is Alphas, Bad Boys, Friends (or Enemies) to Lovers, or Second Chance Romance, we’ll feed your addiction with 23 drool-worthy heroes in this sizzling collection. Escape into tales of intrigue, passion,...

We are a pack, #WolfPackAuthors. We expand exposure for our books, help one another through the process, pick each other up when the lonely life of writing gets us down. As with wolves, words can be dangerous or healing. The reintroduction of the wolf, hunted near extinction, carries far-reaching...

Why are some genocides prominently remembered while others are ignored, hidden, or denied? Consider the Turkish campaign denying the Armenian genocide, followed by the Armenian movement to recognize the violence. Similar movements are building to acknowledge other genocides that have long remained...

More Alternative Truths is an exploration of the potential consequences of today’s politics in our daily lives. More than our individual lives, but our American identity. This exploration defines this anthology.  So many of the stories ask what has America become?  What will it be in the...

Pocket Oncology, developed and edited by oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, is a simple, yet comprehensive, review of basic principles of cancer management. Prepared in the style and format of books in the popular Pocket Notebook series, Pocket Oncology is intended as a quick reference...

This holiday, we proudly presents to you this unique collection of the greatest Christmas classics: most beloved novels, tales, legends, poetry & carols - to warm up your heart and rekindle your holiday sparkle: Works by Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Willa Cather, Beatrix Potter,...

This holiday, we proudly presents to you this unique collection of the greatest Christmas classics: most beloved novels, tales, legends, poetry & carols - to warm up your heart and rekindle your holiday sparkle: Works by Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Willa Cather, Beatrix Potter,...

This holiday, we proudly present to you this unique collection of the greatest Christmas stories. Over 250 of them are included by your favourite authors:Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Willa Cather, Beatrix Potter, Louisa May Alcott, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Hans Christian Andersen, E.T.A. Hoffmann, O. Henry, Mark Twain and many more!

This ebook comprises the 4 volumes of our series named "50 Classic Christmas Stories". All 4 volumes are also available separately in the shop. This edition includes bonus streaming links to our album called "35 essential christmas songs (guitar arrangements)" (Spotify, Apple Music,...

This holiday, we proudly present to you this unique collection of the greatest Christmas stories. Over 250 of them are included by your favourite authors:Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Willa Cather, Beatrix Potter, Louisa May Alcott, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Hans Christian Andersen, E.T.A. Hoffmann, O. Henry, Mark Twain and many more!