Peter Murray brings us the foundational biographies of art's greatest masters. His work, Vite de' più eccellenti pittori, scultori et architettori, is an essential read for anyone interested in Renaissance art history. It's a classic for a reason.
Stephen Trombley is a key figure in intellectual history and reference works. He is best known for creating comprehensive resources like The Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought and The Norton Dictionary of Modern Thought, as well as concise historical overviews such as A Very Short History of Western Thought.