The Agony and the EcstasyThe Agony and the Ecstasy
Score Classic
What it's about
Irving Stone's novel about Michelangelo, from his apprenticeship in Florence as a boy, through the patronage of the Medici, his David, his fierce relationships with popes, and his four years on his back painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, to the dome of St. Peter's in his old age.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 27 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. Stone lived in Italy to research it, and it makes the act of making art thrilling.
You'll love it if you liked
Lust for Life
Leonardo da Vinci
Wolf HallGood to know
It's very long, with much detail on sculpting and Renaissance politics. Some dialogue and relationships are invented. The 1965 film stars Charlton Heston.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller69 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Irving Stone
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Quick answers
Is The Agony and the Ecstasy worth reading?
Yes. It spent 27 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #871 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Agony and the Ecstasy about?
Irving Stone's novel about Michelangelo, from his apprenticeship in Florence as a boy, through the patronage of the Medici, his David, his fierce relationships with popes, and his four years on his back painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, to the dome of St. Peter's in his old age.
How long does it take to read The Agony and the Ecstasy?
About 19 hours (777 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Agony and the Ecstasy?
If you liked it, try Lust for Life by Irving Stone, Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson or Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.