Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: An Intellectual Tour de Force

First, what this book is not. If you are new to studying the Renaissance this book is not for you. The author Jacob Burckhardt, presumes his reader has a strong command of European history. There are countless other good books that lay out Renaissance history in a more structured manner.Having said this, if you know your European history you will find "The Cvilization of the Renaissance in Italy" to be a true delight. The depth of Burckhardt's learning is remarkable. Known as the father of the study of cultural history, Burckhardt beautifully weaves together the many different strands of Italian popular and elite culture to produce a landmark study of Renaissance culture. Although written in 1860, "The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy" is still read today by serious students of the period. The book is beautifully written and it is a sheer joy to see such brilliance in action. Highly recommended.