Though Bartolomeo Scala has long intrigued historians he is a figure whose importance has only recently been appreciated In Alison Brown s biography Scala emerges as a man of more ability and character than anyone has imagined him to be We begin to understand why he was employed as chancellor for the almost unrivaled period of thirty two years Ms Brown s study is not only the first extensive treatment of Scala s life but also a significant contribution to our knowledge of Italian Renaissance history and of the contrast between theory and practice in Medicean government Originally published in 1979 The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print on demand technology to again make available previously out of print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905