Murder, Mannerism and the Medicis with Laurent Binet
From The Shakespeare and Company Interview by Shakespeare and Company
February 19, 2026 · 1h 1m
About this episode
The episode features a conversation with Laurent Binet about his historical novel Perspectives, exploring themes of murder, art, and storytelling in Renaissance Florence.
Recorded live in the bookshop, this conversation dives into the inventive world of Perspectives, Laurent Binet’s historical novel that transforms Renaissance Florence into the scene of a gripping whodunnit. The discussion explores how a real painter’s death becomes the catalyst for a dazzling literary experiment: a murder investigation told entirely through letters, gossip, and competing testimonies. The author reveals how the book blends meticulous archival research with narrative play—treating history not as a fixed record but as a puzzle assembled from partial truths. From the politics of ducal courts to the working lives of artists and artisans, the episode uncovers a city in creative and ideological upheaval, grappling with what comes after artistic perfection. At once detective story, art-history meditation, and sly reflection on storytelling itself, this is a lively exploration of how the past can feel startlingly contemporary—and how every account depends on who’s holding the pen. Buy Perspectives: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/perspectives-4 * Laurent Binet lives and works in France. His first novel, HHhH, was an international bestseller which won the…
People in this episode
Host: Adam Biles
Guest: Laurent Binet
Topics covered
- Renaissance Florence
- historical novel
- murder investigation
- art history
- storytelling
- literary experiment
Keywords
- murder
- Renaissance
- Florence
- historical novel
- art
- letters
- gossip
- testimonies
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Shakespeare and Company
Books & works: Perspectives
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