Writer Marwan Kahil and artist Ariel Vittori join forces to tell the story of one of the world's most accomplished people in Leonardo da Vinci: The Renaissance of the World. The story, told in nonlinear fashion through a series of flashbacks and vignettes, shows Leonardo as a boy, young man and old man, touching on key moments in his life and showcasing some of his greatest accomplishments.

The book, with its invented dialogue, gives a voice to Leonardo's passions and frustrations as he struggles within the confines of a morally restrictive society. At the same time, it shows how he broke through boundaries and expanded the lines between what could and could not be done. It highlights his work on many of his most memorable artworks and inventions as he moved through Italian society, interacting with popes, princes and kings, rubbing elbows with contemporary figures such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Botticelli, and navigating the papal and political pressures that could make or break anyone who wasn't careful.

Kahil's tale is told entirely through dialogue between Leonardo and his peers, giving readers a sense of closeness with the man that would not come through as easily in another format.

Special note must be given to Vittori's illustrations, which not only bring Leonardo and his surroundings to vibrant life but also must reflect some of history's greatest art.

Leonardo da Vinci is an excellent introduction to the man and his works, and provides a good stepping stone for anyone interested in pursuing the topic further.