#45 in Historical fiction
The Agony and the Ecstasy
- 720
- Pages
- about 13 h
- Reading time
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About the book
The Agony and the Ecstasy (1961) is a biographical novel of Michelangelo Buonarroti written by American author Irving Stone. Stone lived in Italy for years visiting many of the locations in Rome and Florence, worked in marble quarries, and apprenticed himself to a marble sculptor. A primary source for the novel is Michelangelo's correspondence, all 495 letters of which Stone had translated from Italian by Charles Speroni and published in 1962 as I, Michelangelo, Sculptor. Stone also collaborated with Canadian sculptor Stanley Lewis, who researched Michelangelo's carving technique and tools. The Italian government lauded Stone with several honorary awards for his cultural achievements highlighting Italian history.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.5 across 52 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 22% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Historical fiction average of 7.9. That is how 8.0 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.2 | 12 | 23% |
| Hardcover | 8.7 | 40 | 77% |
Frequently asked
What is The Agony and the Ecstasy rated?
8.0 out of 10, from 52 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is The Agony and the Ecstasy worth reading?
Readers give it 8.0/10 from 52 ratings, which puts it ahead of 62 % of the Historical fiction shelf.
How long does it take to read The Agony and the Ecstasy?
About 13 hours at an average reading pace — 720 pages.
Where does The Agony and the Ecstasy rank?
#45 in Historical fiction on the current snapshot.
How long is The Agony and the Ecstasy?
It has 720 pages — longer than 87% of the ranked books in Historical fiction.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Historical fiction — and a score of 8.0, the closest to this book.
