A Short History of Renaissance in Italy Author:John Addington Symonds Symonds (1840-93) was an English essayist, poet, and biographer best known for his monumental seven-volume cultural history of the Italian Renaissance. Since the work was more a series of extended essays rather than a systematic history, it lends itself well to this selection and abridgement performed by his friend and approved by Symond's wife,... more » who supplied the brief preface.« less