Point of View

This book is a work of non-fiction, so it is written from the author's perspective. At times he is writing from the present, telling the reader what has taken place, and other times he writes as if he is observing a scene first hand. His telling of the story of Filippo Brunelleschi's dome is often scientific and straight forward. At other times he is more narrative and descriptive, describing the sights, sounds, and smells of 14th and 15th century Italy.

His scientific descriptions of Brunelleschi's various machines are highly detailed, serving as a view into the mind and intelligence of Filippo. When he is telling about the various workers on the site, he not only accurately describes their work, he gives details into how they are woken up in the morning, what and where they eat their noon meal, and the clouds of smoke and loud...