Explore the rich history and culture of two of Italy's most treasured cities with renowned French philosopher and critic Hippolyte Taine. This seminal work of travel writing presents a vivid portrait of Florence and Venice, from Renaissance art and architecture to daily life on the streets. Combining rigorous intellectual inquiry with an infectious enthusiasm for Italy, Taine's is a journey not to be missed. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.