I was tentative to read this book because I am always overly critical of people “not in the business” writing about art – particularly when it’s specifically my field of art history. But after rolling my eyes several times because of factual errors or overzealous interpretations in the book, I began initially to respect, then to admire and finally to be proud of Matar’s account of his sincere love and appreciation for Duccio, Lorenzetti and co. This quiet and spiritual book is in many ways like the city of Siena itself – complex in its simplicity.