What Is The Setting For George Eliot's "Romola"�?

This novel, published in 1851, is set in Florence in the late 15th century. It contains many real-life characters such as Nicolo Machiavelli, adviser to the Prince of Florence, King Charles VIII and Savonarola, the medieval Italian preacher who is central to the action. Romola is the daughter of an old, blind scholar, whom she looks after devotedly. She marries a devious young Greek, Tito Melema, who betrays her father and, even worse, robs and abandons his benefactor, Baldassare. Eventually Melema is punished when Baldassare emerges from prison to seek vengeance, but Romola is left desolate; both her husband and the preacher Savonarola, whom she adored, have proved unworthy. Romola finally finds comfort in doing good works, but has no other earthly happiness. The novel was admired for its recreation of period detail, but many readers found Eliot's portrayal of medieval life unsatisfying, and unlike some of her novels, it is not much read today.