I first discovered this book when Sarah Kim mentioned it on Our Reading Life in November 2024. She had read Brunelleschi’s Dome with her son Kuanu, and I was immediately intrigued. Classical art and architecture have long been interests of mine. I’ve loved Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel since I was a child—thanks in no small part to the magnificent film The Agony and the Ecstasy with Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison.
Sarah mentioned that she listened to Brunelleschi’s Dome via Audible but regretted not reading the print version because she missed the helpful illustrations that enhanced comprehension. However, since I already have a solid working knowledge of the Sistine Chapel, I decided that an audiobook would work fine for me in this case.
The book turned out to be utterly fascinating. King masterfully sets the geopolitical scene, creating a vivid backdrop that makes the drama of Renaissance Italy come alive. His characters are compelling, and you’re drawn into their struggles and motivations. Even the technical aspects of Michelangelo’s work are explained with clarity, striking a perfect balance between accessibility for lay readers and enough depth to captivate anyone with a craftsman’s eye. This is history at its finest, reminiscent of David McCullough’s engrossing biographies.
That said, I must confess that towards the end, I began to tire of the politics a bit. It brought to mind Pope Julius’s exasperated question from the movie: “When will you make an end?!”
After finishing, I discovered that the audiobook is abridged. I’m unsure if this means the text itself has been trimmed or if it’s merely a note about the absence of diagrams and illustrations, which, understandably, don’t translate to an audio format.
This is a long, intricate, and captivating story that would suit teen readers and up. King doesn’t shy away from addressing the rumors about Michelangelo’s personal life, including why he painted so many nude figures. Ultimately, King concludes that Michelangelo was likely a celibate heterosexual who preferred to dedicate his energy to his art rather than to romantic relationships.
If you love history, art, or the enduring drama of human creativity, Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling is a fascinating journey worth taking.