Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream by Francesco ColonnaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was supposedly written by a priest, and I can only imagine he wasn't a very good priest, seeing as how the only God mentioned in the book are Greek, Roman and Egyptian Gods. Also, it is a story about love for a woman, and describes lots of beautiful women, naked women, phallic symbols, breasts, and the like (not to mention naked nymphs hugging and kissing "open mouthed").
He must have been a very interesting person, however, since his knowledge of botany and foods and trees seems immense, and many of the architectural wonders he describes were probably merely fantasies for people during the renaissance. Much of it probably stemmed from still living in a time when Ancient Roman wonders were around (such as the pantheon, and aqueducts) which, although created over 1,000 years prior, were not understood by contemporary engineers and experts. It is fascinating to read about a fountain that only sprays water when you go near it, and to find that is happens based on having stepped on a certain stone, through a mechanism he describes and was probably science fiction at the time. Likewise other inventions, like the wheeled basin continuously pouring out water, collecting it, and pouring it back out again.
Having said that, it really drags out in places, and I found myself skimming over some of the more elaborate descriptions (of ardor, of building, of scenery, etc.)
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