Notable Men and Women of Our TimeWritten in the aftermath of the catastrophic sack of Rome in 1527, the historian Paolo Giovio's dialogue provides an informed perspective on the event from an intimate friend of Pope Clement VII. The work is also remarkable for its discussions of literary style and the much debated question whether the vernacular could rival or surpass Latin as a vehicle for literary expression. It discusses authors whom Giovio knew personally, such as Ariosto,