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Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy
The very name Lucrezia Borgia conjures up everything that was sinister and corrupt about the Renaissance—incest, political assassination, papal sexual abuse, poisonous intrigue, unscrupulous power grabs. Yet, as bestselling biographer Sarah Bradford reveals in this breathtaking new portrait, the truth is far more fascinating than the myth. Neither a vicious monster nor a seductive pawn, Lucrezia Borgia was a shrewd, determined woman who used her beauty and intelligence to secure a key role in the political struggles of her day. Drawing from a trove of contemporary documents and fascinating firsthand accounts, Bradford brings to life the art, the pageantry, and the dangerous politics of the Renaissance world Lucrezia Borgia helped to create.
366 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2004
About the author
Sarah Bradford
59 books101 followersEducated at St. Mary’s Convent, Shaftesbury Dorset, where she won a State Scholarship and at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she won a College Scholarship in History, Sarah Bradford is an historian and biographer who has travelled extensively, living in the West Indies, Portugal and Italy. She speaks four languages which have been invaluable in her research for her various books, particularly The Englishman’s Wine, the Story of Port (the first book on the subject written by a woman), Portugal and Madeira. She worked in the Manuscript Department of Christie’s London, travelling for the Department and valuing manuscripts from the fifteenth to twentieth centuries, an experience which enabled her to write Cesare Borgia (used by the BBC as the source of their series ‘The Borgias’, for which she wrote the novelisation of the scripts) and, most recently, Lucrezia Borgia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
May 24, 2012
I could not disagree more with the reviewers who are lambasting this book for its lack of purple prose and for not having the Antonia Frasier approach of “just make stuff up”. Meticulously referenced and using vast amounts of primary sources, as well as looking in a measured way at historical debates, this is exactly what a biography should be – and Lucrezia emerges from her own voice and those of the people around her, rather than as a trashy historical fiction heroine.
What emerges is fascinating – a woman surrounded by violence and intrigue and incredibly able and politically adept; with the Borgia “resilience” that allowed her to quickly recover from the horrible fates of those she loved without losing any of her devotion to their murderers’ a woman of great and apparently sincere piety and complete sexual amorality; a woman who would condone her brother’s hideous miscarriages of justice and yet spent much of her time pleading for clemency for prisoners; a loving and happily married wife who carried on long-term adulterous affairs. Her contradictions are the most interesting part. Given great power and riches at a very young age, living a life of almost obscene self-indulgence, governing cities by seventeen, thrust into “temporary” marriages as stepping stones for her family, and loving excessively a father and brothers of stunning brutality, the Lucrezia depicted here is morally ambiguous but very definitely a strong and intelligent woman of unusual gifts and capabilities, neither the monster nor the passive innocent of fiction.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of her life is the part most ignored by sensationalists who focus on her Borgia connection – her life in Ferrarra. That she could largely negotiate her own marriage into a family who were desperate to escape having to accept her marrying into them, and win the hearts, minds and trust of at least the male members of the family – though never her sister-in-law – is an incredible achievement. That the marriage wasn’t annulled when the Borgia connection became a disadvantage (and there were reasons enough for an annulment) and that in fact she was frequently trusted to rule Ferrarra for long periods of time, is even more impressive. Lucrezia’s delicate handling of her lover’s affection and trust to help save Ferrarra from a hostile Pope shows her great ability, and the fact that she managed to transform herself from the notorious bastard Lucrezia Borgia to the beloved and almost universally respected Duchess of Ferrarra – hailed on all sides as a beautiful, modest, wise and above all *good* princess - is an incredible story. I spent most of the book marvelling at, not just her canny intelligence, but the incredible charm she must have exerted to win so many hostile men – including her family’s implacable enemies – over to her side.
This is an excellent telling of her life – scholarly but not dense, readable but not sensationalised, measured and fair, and using sources unique to this book. It relies on the authentic voices of the Renaissance to bring out the extraordinary impact this woman managed to have on her time.
It’s probably sad, then, that the most striking fact that remains with me is that Lucrezia and her father-in-law shared a hobby of collecting nuns.
What emerges is fascinating – a woman surrounded by violence and intrigue and incredibly able and politically adept; with the Borgia “resilience” that allowed her to quickly recover from the horrible fates of those she loved without losing any of her devotion to their murderers’ a woman of great and apparently sincere piety and complete sexual amorality; a woman who would condone her brother’s hideous miscarriages of justice and yet spent much of her time pleading for clemency for prisoners; a loving and happily married wife who carried on long-term adulterous affairs. Her contradictions are the most interesting part. Given great power and riches at a very young age, living a life of almost obscene self-indulgence, governing cities by seventeen, thrust into “temporary” marriages as stepping stones for her family, and loving excessively a father and brothers of stunning brutality, the Lucrezia depicted here is morally ambiguous but very definitely a strong and intelligent woman of unusual gifts and capabilities, neither the monster nor the passive innocent of fiction.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of her life is the part most ignored by sensationalists who focus on her Borgia connection – her life in Ferrarra. That she could largely negotiate her own marriage into a family who were desperate to escape having to accept her marrying into them, and win the hearts, minds and trust of at least the male members of the family – though never her sister-in-law – is an incredible achievement. That the marriage wasn’t annulled when the Borgia connection became a disadvantage (and there were reasons enough for an annulment) and that in fact she was frequently trusted to rule Ferrarra for long periods of time, is even more impressive. Lucrezia’s delicate handling of her lover’s affection and trust to help save Ferrarra from a hostile Pope shows her great ability, and the fact that she managed to transform herself from the notorious bastard Lucrezia Borgia to the beloved and almost universally respected Duchess of Ferrarra – hailed on all sides as a beautiful, modest, wise and above all *good* princess - is an incredible story. I spent most of the book marvelling at, not just her canny intelligence, but the incredible charm she must have exerted to win so many hostile men – including her family’s implacable enemies – over to her side.
This is an excellent telling of her life – scholarly but not dense, readable but not sensationalised, measured and fair, and using sources unique to this book. It relies on the authentic voices of the Renaissance to bring out the extraordinary impact this woman managed to have on her time.
It’s probably sad, then, that the most striking fact that remains with me is that Lucrezia and her father-in-law shared a hobby of collecting nuns.
December 26, 2022
I don't read many biographies. It's all the guesswork involved that puts me off. A novelist knows her characters heart and soul; a biographer doesn't. This is a very well written book. Lucrezia Borgia was clearly a fascinating woman. More autonomous, less scandalous than I had thought. I enjoyed learning about the complex political divisions in Italy at the time and the Este family in Ferrara. At the end of the day though I'd have preferred to watch a television documentary about her. I wanted to see the places and paintings mentioned and it would have also been less time consuming. To some extent the TV documentary has replaced the written biography.
November 13, 2012
I have been looking for a book about Lucrezia that told her complete life story, so many books only cover her childhood or her first or second marriage. This non-fiction book covered it all...The notorious Borgia family...all three husbands Giovanni Sforza, Alfonso of Aragon and Alfonso d' Este...The Italian Wars and an intimate look and detailed history about the city of Ferrara, where Lucrezia's life ended. I'm not a big non-fiction fan, but this book answered my questions. I just visited Ferrara and saw The Este Palace and the tomb's of The Este family at Corpus Domini. I wanted information about this quiet town and detailed information about who was in those dungeons and why. I found it interesting during the Italian wars how Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon, King Henry VII and VIII and course King Louis XII and Francis I of France were involved. Bradford couldn't do a complete biography about Lucrezia without detailing all of these events and the people surrounding her. This book is very complete. I didn't find the author's style to be dry, maybe because I was interested?
Bradford begins with Lucrezia's birth and debunks myths and raises facts about this family. She uses old documents to come to her conclusions. If you want to know about this family, this wonderful book will answer your questions.
Lucrezia and Alfonso I's tomb at Corpus Domini. Not the best shot, but I had to be quick :) The nun was watching us.
Leaving the Dungeon where Giulio d'Este was kept. The author goes into great detail about this event. Just look at how small the door is. Imagine being down there underground, no electricity, rats and etc?
Bradford begins with Lucrezia's birth and debunks myths and raises facts about this family. She uses old documents to come to her conclusions. If you want to know about this family, this wonderful book will answer your questions.
Lucrezia and Alfonso I's tomb at Corpus Domini. Not the best shot, but I had to be quick :) The nun was watching us.
Leaving the Dungeon where Giulio d'Este was kept. The author goes into great detail about this event. Just look at how small the door is. Imagine being down there underground, no electricity, rats and etc?
July 20, 2010
I'm still very interested in Lucrezia and the Borgias generally, but I just do not like Bradford's style. Very clinical and dry, which is NOT what you want from a biography of a Borgia! Bradford just sloughs along from one event to another in Lucrezia's life, interspersing lengthy (and often irrelevant and/or sycophantic) excerpts from her letters that, oftentimes, you're just happy to zip through. This book suffers the most common and worst fate of biographies - the subjects just do not feel like real people who lived and breathed. They all feel like vague shadows or monolithic statues of History. Very disappointing.
(I made it through the majority of this book before the library cut off my renewals. It was that rough going.)
(I made it through the majority of this book before the library cut off my renewals. It was that rough going.)
February 16, 2016
4.5 stars
This is a good, thorough biography of Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI, from her beginnings as a 'Borgia daughter' to her end as the Duchess of Ferrara. Bradford discusses Lucrezia's life, relationships, marriages, births, and affairs using plenty of primary sources and where necessary engages with and debates the work of other writers who work with this period. Lucrezia's life is discussed within its context- Bradford never fails to inform the reader about what is going on all around Lucrezia, and the actions of her relatives (especially her brother, Cesare, and her father), which may annoy some but for me helped me understand why Lucrezia did some of the things she did. I particularly enjoyed the last two thirds of the book when Lucrezia begins her life in Ferrara, as this is where novels of Lucrezia tend to stop or non fiction focuses more on the 'other Borgias'. I was interested to learn about Lucrezia's husband Alfonso d'Este too, and his diplomatic relationships- including those with the kings of France and England (Henry VIII is always popping up where you least expect him!). In short, the content of this book is excellent.
Bradford's portrayal is sympathetic yet fair- the age old tales of Lucrezia poisoning and committing incest are discussed and debunked using good scholarship and Bradford generally uses the source material well. My only real problem here is Bradford's apparent refusal to consider that the famous Infans Romanus Giovanni Borgia could have been Lucrezia's child. Even where the evidence suggests he could be- for example, Cesare referring to Giovanni as his nephew- Bradford dismisses or ignores it. I don't necessarily disagree with Bradford when she states that Giovanni could be Pope Alexander's, more I think that no one can say for certain who he was and that dismissing evidence is rather misleading/dishonest (I noted this and more in a status update while reading, which is here: https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...). However, I have not let this affect my overall feelings about the book, because the rest of the book is so well done and besides, I like a book that makes me think.
Overall, this was a great read and I recommend it to anyone interested in the life of Lucrezia and the times she lived in.
This is a good, thorough biography of Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI, from her beginnings as a 'Borgia daughter' to her end as the Duchess of Ferrara. Bradford discusses Lucrezia's life, relationships, marriages, births, and affairs using plenty of primary sources and where necessary engages with and debates the work of other writers who work with this period. Lucrezia's life is discussed within its context- Bradford never fails to inform the reader about what is going on all around Lucrezia, and the actions of her relatives (especially her brother, Cesare, and her father), which may annoy some but for me helped me understand why Lucrezia did some of the things she did. I particularly enjoyed the last two thirds of the book when Lucrezia begins her life in Ferrara, as this is where novels of Lucrezia tend to stop or non fiction focuses more on the 'other Borgias'. I was interested to learn about Lucrezia's husband Alfonso d'Este too, and his diplomatic relationships- including those with the kings of France and England (Henry VIII is always popping up where you least expect him!). In short, the content of this book is excellent.
Bradford's portrayal is sympathetic yet fair- the age old tales of Lucrezia poisoning and committing incest are discussed and debunked using good scholarship and Bradford generally uses the source material well. My only real problem here is Bradford's apparent refusal to consider that the famous Infans Romanus Giovanni Borgia could have been Lucrezia's child. Even where the evidence suggests he could be- for example, Cesare referring to Giovanni as his nephew- Bradford dismisses or ignores it. I don't necessarily disagree with Bradford when she states that Giovanni could be Pope Alexander's, more I think that no one can say for certain who he was and that dismissing evidence is rather misleading/dishonest (I noted this and more in a status update while reading, which is here: https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...). However, I have not let this affect my overall feelings about the book, because the rest of the book is so well done and besides, I like a book that makes me think.
Overall, this was a great read and I recommend it to anyone interested in the life of Lucrezia and the times she lived in.
December 28, 2020
A pretty fun read on a controversial historical figure. The prose could get a bit speculative/purpley at times, but overall I felt it was decently balanced, and like any well-written biography, it contains some pretty cool trivia about life and politics in Lucrezia's time so you get a better idea of the choices and limitations Lucrezia had.
Quotations from letters and firsthand accounts also help to illustrate the historicity of this book.
Quotations from letters and firsthand accounts also help to illustrate the historicity of this book.
January 14, 2013
Unfortunately, Lucrezia Borgia promises a lot it doesn't deliver on.
The book is only half about Lucrezia. Bradford branches out to tell the stories of not only those close to her, but those who had barely anything to do with her.
This could be excused as a way of teaching readers about Lucrezia's Italy. Except:
a) Bradford drops so many names that only a historian could keep track of everyone, and
b) Bradford tell us little of what Lucrezia herself did.
For example, Bradford mentions that Lucrezia administered Ferrera while her husband was away...then talks about said husband, ignoring whatever Lucrezia did, including fascinating things like judging the innocence or guilt of Ferrera's citizens. Instead of building an interesting world in which Lucrezia had a part, Bradford built a world in which Lucrezia faded into the background to be forgotten.
The result is confusing and, in parts, dull.
As a history fan I found a lot of interesting bits. But anyone picking up this book for Lucrezia might be disappointed.
-Elizabeth Reuter
Author, The Demon of Renaissance Drive
The book is only half about Lucrezia. Bradford branches out to tell the stories of not only those close to her, but those who had barely anything to do with her.
This could be excused as a way of teaching readers about Lucrezia's Italy. Except:
a) Bradford drops so many names that only a historian could keep track of everyone, and
b) Bradford tell us little of what Lucrezia herself did.
For example, Bradford mentions that Lucrezia administered Ferrera while her husband was away...then talks about said husband, ignoring whatever Lucrezia did, including fascinating things like judging the innocence or guilt of Ferrera's citizens. Instead of building an interesting world in which Lucrezia had a part, Bradford built a world in which Lucrezia faded into the background to be forgotten.
The result is confusing and, in parts, dull.
As a history fan I found a lot of interesting bits. But anyone picking up this book for Lucrezia might be disappointed.
-Elizabeth Reuter
Author, The Demon of Renaissance Drive
October 5, 2011
Like most historical figures that interest me, I was first introduced to Lucrezia Borgia and her awesome, psychotic family through historic fiction. In high school I read The Borgia Bride, which was told from the perspective of Lucrezia's sister-in-law, Sancha of Aragon. It was awesome (and, as I now know from reading this book, pretty accurate) for several reasons: first, lots of sex, which to a fifteen-year-old is a great recommendation in itself; second, it was full of poisonings, backstabbing both figurative and literal (I recall that Sancha carried a dagger in her gown and used it several times), political intrigue, and general skullduggery. Also the author decided that, yes, the rumors were true and Lucrezia was sleeping with both her father and her brother Cesare, so there was that additional bit of escandalo. It was an awesome read, is what I'm saying, and when I saw this in a bookstore I decided to buy it on a whim and find out more about the real Lucrezia Borgia.
The first half, when her father is Pope and is gaining power (and then at the height of it), is fascinating. There are murders, wars, scheming, teenage mistresses, bastard children, and other classic Renaissance-style fun (and syphilis). What I learned from this segment of the book is that the Borgias' bad historical reputation is well-earned - Alexander basically bribed his way into the papacy and, despite being a religious person, had no problem keeping a mistress and being a power-hungry, murderous jackass in order to keep his power; his son Cesare wanted to take over Italy and came pretty damn close; and one of the Borgia children was murdered, probably by his own siblings, and found dead in a river. The only thing that's missing is the incest, which Bradford adamantly insists did not happen. I'm inclined to agree (after all, Cesare and Alexander could sleep with literally any women they wanted, so it's not like they were so desperate for tail they resorted to banging their sister/daughter), but in the interest of fairness and rumor-mongering, Bradford doesn't really offer up any compelling evidence that Lucrezia didn't sleep with her father or her brother. Just sayin'.
In fact, there aren't many claims made in this book at all, which is one reason it loses a star. Bradford isn't really making any specific points with this book, aside from setting out to show us that Lucrezia was a) not sleeping with her family members and b) not nearly as villainous as she's portrayed, and was actually very intelligent and sympathetic. Many of the other characters are more interesting that she is, particularly her fascinating and totally evil brother Cesare, who deserves a book of his own (I'm sure there are several already, but at times it felt like he was the one Bradford really wanted to be writing about). Sancha also makes a few appearances (she's known as Sancia here) and the little bits of information that Bradford reveals about her actions are tantalizingly brief. She'll mention offhandedly "Sancia was now Cesare's mistress" and then a few chapters later, "Sancia was no longer with Cesare and was now the mistress of so-and-so" with nothing in between. This made me want to find a biography of Sancha, because she sounds cool as hell. Equally so is Lucrezia's other sister-in-law, Isabella d'Este (the sister of Lucrezia's third husband), who becomes an important character in the second half of the book.
Unfortunately, that's where it gets boring. Once Lucrezia marries Alfonso d'Este and moves away from Rome, she's away from the center of the papal goings-on, which means the reader is too. Then Cesare and Alexander die, and there are no more cool characters doing batshit crazy things. Instead, it's just chapter after chapter of "Then Lucrezia got pregnant again and had another miscarriage. Then she wrote this letter to this person. Then Alfonso went to war and Lucrezia was in charge of Ferrara, and here's some stuff she did." Once the crazy Borgias are gone and it's just Lucrezia, the story stops being interesting. It doesn't help that Bradford's writing style is so dry and dull already, even when describing poisonings and ruinous affairs, and she makes Lucrezia's later life intolerably boring. Also Bradford's writing can be very confusing and oddly-structured, as evidenced in this bizarrely-constructed sentence that I had to read three times before I understood what it was trying to say: "That very day, alone in charge at Ferrara since Alfonso was away in camp and Ippolito also, Lucrezia, despite Sanudo's report of panic, kept her head, informing Alfonso of all she was doing to help, including sending a spy to Venice to find out whether the Venetians were arming forces and, if so, of what kind."
What? There has got to be a better way to phrase all that.
The first half, when her father is Pope and is gaining power (and then at the height of it), is fascinating. There are murders, wars, scheming, teenage mistresses, bastard children, and other classic Renaissance-style fun (and syphilis). What I learned from this segment of the book is that the Borgias' bad historical reputation is well-earned - Alexander basically bribed his way into the papacy and, despite being a religious person, had no problem keeping a mistress and being a power-hungry, murderous jackass in order to keep his power; his son Cesare wanted to take over Italy and came pretty damn close; and one of the Borgia children was murdered, probably by his own siblings, and found dead in a river. The only thing that's missing is the incest, which Bradford adamantly insists did not happen. I'm inclined to agree (after all, Cesare and Alexander could sleep with literally any women they wanted, so it's not like they were so desperate for tail they resorted to banging their sister/daughter), but in the interest of fairness and rumor-mongering, Bradford doesn't really offer up any compelling evidence that Lucrezia didn't sleep with her father or her brother. Just sayin'.
In fact, there aren't many claims made in this book at all, which is one reason it loses a star. Bradford isn't really making any specific points with this book, aside from setting out to show us that Lucrezia was a) not sleeping with her family members and b) not nearly as villainous as she's portrayed, and was actually very intelligent and sympathetic. Many of the other characters are more interesting that she is, particularly her fascinating and totally evil brother Cesare, who deserves a book of his own (I'm sure there are several already, but at times it felt like he was the one Bradford really wanted to be writing about). Sancha also makes a few appearances (she's known as Sancia here) and the little bits of information that Bradford reveals about her actions are tantalizingly brief. She'll mention offhandedly "Sancia was now Cesare's mistress" and then a few chapters later, "Sancia was no longer with Cesare and was now the mistress of so-and-so" with nothing in between. This made me want to find a biography of Sancha, because she sounds cool as hell. Equally so is Lucrezia's other sister-in-law, Isabella d'Este (the sister of Lucrezia's third husband), who becomes an important character in the second half of the book.
Unfortunately, that's where it gets boring. Once Lucrezia marries Alfonso d'Este and moves away from Rome, she's away from the center of the papal goings-on, which means the reader is too. Then Cesare and Alexander die, and there are no more cool characters doing batshit crazy things. Instead, it's just chapter after chapter of "Then Lucrezia got pregnant again and had another miscarriage. Then she wrote this letter to this person. Then Alfonso went to war and Lucrezia was in charge of Ferrara, and here's some stuff she did." Once the crazy Borgias are gone and it's just Lucrezia, the story stops being interesting. It doesn't help that Bradford's writing style is so dry and dull already, even when describing poisonings and ruinous affairs, and she makes Lucrezia's later life intolerably boring. Also Bradford's writing can be very confusing and oddly-structured, as evidenced in this bizarrely-constructed sentence that I had to read three times before I understood what it was trying to say: "That very day, alone in charge at Ferrara since Alfonso was away in camp and Ippolito also, Lucrezia, despite Sanudo's report of panic, kept her head, informing Alfonso of all she was doing to help, including sending a spy to Venice to find out whether the Venetians were arming forces and, if so, of what kind."
What? There has got to be a better way to phrase all that.
August 13, 2009
Long vilified as a murderess, conspirator and partner to incest, Lucrezia Borgia was overdue for a reappraisal by a serious historian able to blast past the stereotypes. Sarah Bradford does exactly that by dint of meticulous research revealing the fascinating if turbulent life of the daughter of Pope Alexander VI. Used by her father to advance his political ambitions, Lucrezia endured an early marriage that was annulled under questionable circumstances, the brutal murder of her second husband, and the destruction of her own reputation at the hands of her family’s enemies. She emerged from all that as a woman of strength and grace, finding a degree of stability and even contentment in a third marriage that made her Duchess of Ferrera. Bradford brings Lucrezia and her world vividly to life, in the process raising provocative questions about the need to re-evaluate the role of women in general throughout history.
July 10, 2018
Great biography of an often vilified woman. In my opinion, she earned some of that revulsion, but she also found a way to thrive in a century very cruel to women. While certainly no Mother Theresa, I walked away from Bradford’s work with a newfound appreciation for Lucrezia Borgia.
July 14, 2010
You might ask why someone like me would continue to be a Catholic after reading this book. Add to this the number of pedophile scandals among the clergy in recent years, and you have a real point. However, incest, pedophilia, and assassination in the name of politics,power,position,and greed is nothing new to the realm of Popedom and the Church.
My reason then for remaining a Catholic is based on the basic tenets of the Church and not on the people who run them.
One of these is none other than Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia who sired the heroine in this historical tale of Lucretia her brother, Cesare, and her half brothers Juan, Giovanni, and Rodrigo.
Right from the outset, the reader becomes privy to the insidious ways in which Rodrigo operates in order to rise to the power of the Pope and uses Lucretia and Cesare as pawns to spawn his influence throughout the known world during the 15th century.
Our heroine was born in 1480. Right from the outset, Rodrigo knew that he had a winner. Bradford describes her as, "She was of middle height and graceful in form. Her face is rather long and the nose is well cut, hair golden, eyes of no special color...Her teeth were brilliantly white, ... the bust admirably preportioned, She is always gay and smiling."At twelve when Rodrigo would be anointed Pope Alexander VI, she was ripe for the first of her three marriages.
1. On June 12th, 1493, she was wed to Giovanni Sforza, This union was admittedly based on a vendetta in retaliation to an affront to the Pope made by the King of Aragon in Naples. The marriage was later annulled on the pretext that it had never been consummated. ( History proved otherwise.)
With Giovanni out of the way, Lucretia was then betrothed to 2. Alfonso d'Aragona, but he, too, fell into disfavor and was conveniently done away with by Cesare, Lucretia's arrogant and malevolent brother. Even motherhood did not stop Alexander from moving Lucretia forward on a mission to expand the empire and his influence for by this time she had proven that she was a skillful administrator and a person who could easily gain the love and the loyalty of her people. After the untimely demise of spouse number two, negotiations were readily in place for
3. Alfonso d'Este the Duke of Ferrara. His fame as a military man was renown. He was particularly adept in the knowledge and use of ammunitions and artillery. This made him valuable to the Pope and to his people in their effort to expand the empire. Lucretia was of such great value to him during his wars away from home, because he knew that he could trust her with governing whilst he was away.On the other hand, when he was at home conjugal unions were frequent leaving Lucretia with a number of miscarriages and at least five living progeny. Her first born was dutifully named after her father, Rodrigo, the Pope who spawned her.
The foregoing is only a glimpse into the intrigue, the debauchery, the politics, and the sexual innuendos that were an integral part of the Borgia's legacy. If you wish to get down to the nitty gritty details on your own, I dare you to attempt this historical documentary.
I,myself, found it to be a rather difficult exercise. Ms. Bradford confused this reader by referring to her characters with different names, jumping from one episode in the adventure to another, and repeating various incidents ad infinatum . Believe me if I were not focused, or if I did not go back to check the references, I would have been left in the proverbial dark. Even at that, I cannot say that I fully understood the full impact of the strategies of war and the political machinations that were used to achieve their goals.
This summary is but a brief description of interludes in the Borgia'sstory. One would have to read the book in order to delve further into the each move made on the chessboard of time during the reign of the Borgian dynasty.
Good Luck!!
Note: Bradford denies that Lucretia was a pawn in the Pope's power moves.
My reason then for remaining a Catholic is based on the basic tenets of the Church and not on the people who run them.
One of these is none other than Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia who sired the heroine in this historical tale of Lucretia her brother, Cesare, and her half brothers Juan, Giovanni, and Rodrigo.
Right from the outset, the reader becomes privy to the insidious ways in which Rodrigo operates in order to rise to the power of the Pope and uses Lucretia and Cesare as pawns to spawn his influence throughout the known world during the 15th century.
Our heroine was born in 1480. Right from the outset, Rodrigo knew that he had a winner. Bradford describes her as, "She was of middle height and graceful in form. Her face is rather long and the nose is well cut, hair golden, eyes of no special color...Her teeth were brilliantly white, ... the bust admirably preportioned, She is always gay and smiling."At twelve when Rodrigo would be anointed Pope Alexander VI, she was ripe for the first of her three marriages.
1. On June 12th, 1493, she was wed to Giovanni Sforza, This union was admittedly based on a vendetta in retaliation to an affront to the Pope made by the King of Aragon in Naples. The marriage was later annulled on the pretext that it had never been consummated. ( History proved otherwise.)
With Giovanni out of the way, Lucretia was then betrothed to 2. Alfonso d'Aragona, but he, too, fell into disfavor and was conveniently done away with by Cesare, Lucretia's arrogant and malevolent brother. Even motherhood did not stop Alexander from moving Lucretia forward on a mission to expand the empire and his influence for by this time she had proven that she was a skillful administrator and a person who could easily gain the love and the loyalty of her people. After the untimely demise of spouse number two, negotiations were readily in place for
3. Alfonso d'Este the Duke of Ferrara. His fame as a military man was renown. He was particularly adept in the knowledge and use of ammunitions and artillery. This made him valuable to the Pope and to his people in their effort to expand the empire. Lucretia was of such great value to him during his wars away from home, because he knew that he could trust her with governing whilst he was away.On the other hand, when he was at home conjugal unions were frequent leaving Lucretia with a number of miscarriages and at least five living progeny. Her first born was dutifully named after her father, Rodrigo, the Pope who spawned her.
The foregoing is only a glimpse into the intrigue, the debauchery, the politics, and the sexual innuendos that were an integral part of the Borgia's legacy. If you wish to get down to the nitty gritty details on your own, I dare you to attempt this historical documentary.
I,myself, found it to be a rather difficult exercise. Ms. Bradford confused this reader by referring to her characters with different names, jumping from one episode in the adventure to another, and repeating various incidents ad infinatum . Believe me if I were not focused, or if I did not go back to check the references, I would have been left in the proverbial dark. Even at that, I cannot say that I fully understood the full impact of the strategies of war and the political machinations that were used to achieve their goals.
This summary is but a brief description of interludes in the Borgia'sstory. One would have to read the book in order to delve further into the each move made on the chessboard of time during the reign of the Borgian dynasty.
Good Luck!!
Note: Bradford denies that Lucretia was a pawn in the Pope's power moves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2012
The great thing about anything by Sarah Bradford is that she adores her subjects, yet can look at them from an objective manner. The bad thing about Sarah Bradford is that she adores her subjects, and thus is meticulously detailed in her work. If you are not a hardcore fan of whatever she's writing about--in this case the Borgia family--you probably won't like her biographies. Lucrezia Borgia, in particular, is somewhat sparsely documented in some cases; we can't always know for sure where she was here or what she was doing there. Bradford is not going to make any intuitive leaps about Lucrezia. She is going to research as many sources vaguely connected to the woman as possible, and she is going to tell you about them.
As such, many readers are left complaining about this person and that, people who aren't Lucrezia and yet nevertheless are closely tended to. Cesare Borgia--Lucrezia's brother--is often used as a device through which we learn about the biography's subject. Although this book is largely about Lucrezia, you will learn much about her family as well. She is a Borgia, after all.
Though the book's apologist tone did irritate me at times, I ultimately came away pleased with "Lucrezia" and happy that one biographer at least seems to respect and admire this remarkable woman.
As such, many readers are left complaining about this person and that, people who aren't Lucrezia and yet nevertheless are closely tended to. Cesare Borgia--Lucrezia's brother--is often used as a device through which we learn about the biography's subject. Although this book is largely about Lucrezia, you will learn much about her family as well. She is a Borgia, after all.
Though the book's apologist tone did irritate me at times, I ultimately came away pleased with "Lucrezia" and happy that one biographer at least seems to respect and admire this remarkable woman.
September 1, 2013
I actually have to be honest and say I didn't enjoy reading this at all. I found it to be dull. I felt like we never got to read about Lucrezia and certainly never got to know her. The book is written in a way that all of the unfamiliar Italian names are confusing. It got to the point where I'd pick it up and not even know what the author was talking about. It took me forever to finish this book and I'd be put off reading anything else from this author.
February 14, 2011
While some people may find Bradford's meticulous approach to Lucrezia dull, the books reliance on primary sources, mostly correspondence between major players in Lucrezia's life, made for a satisfying listen (I listened to it on MP3). The book dodges the villainous reputation that various operas, plays, and histories have apparently given her and instead portrays her as woman caught in a powerful family that used deception and violence to grab land and power. She isn't portrayed as a victim,either, but rather a woman who did what she needed to do within the limitations of her circumstances as a Borgia and as an Italian noblewoman in the Renaissance age. There's a lot of comprehensive description of Italian Renaissance life for the upper classes, including long lists of items and people that give the reader a rich picture of the world of the Borgia s. Bradford indulges in relatively sober and careful interpretations of what motivated the people of this milieu , but more often she supplies the facts and allows the reader their own interpretations. Some people find this approach to history tedious and enjoy a more narrative structure to their history, but those who have imagination and enjoy exploring their own interpretations of history will find plenty of material to work with here.
April 1, 2021
3/5 stars, full review to come! So... many... names.....
Organization : 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment of subject/ideas: 3/5
Organization : 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment of subject/ideas: 3/5
April 22, 2019
Sarah Bradford's biography of the notorious yet very much misunderstood Lucrezia Borgia is a good balance between engaging and well-researched writing. A lot of people still consider Lucrezia Borgia as femme fatale who killed her husbands and enjoyed the power, sex and wealthiness that the Borgia family brought her. Of course we are never going know who she really was but Bradford makes it easy to see the other side of the coin as well. In Bradford's biography Lucrezia is painted as a partly misunderstood woman who didn't have the choice to make her own future. She was first ruled by her father, the pope, and her power and money hungry brother Cesare, and then later by her three husbands. While I was reading the twists and turns of Lucrezia's life, I learned to pity for her and be glad that I can actually make my own choices and not to be a pawn in someone's game. Bradford doesn't colour and spice up her life because without the doubt it is still filled with money, sex and power. Still I feel that I have finally learned something new about Lucrezia Borgia after watching the tv shows that colour her life very differently. All in all, brilliant biography which I highly recommend to all the lovers of the renaissance era and powerful women of the past.
February 10, 2019
This book was an alright read. The first part felt more like reading the Borgia family history than Lucrezia early life. You get a couple of paragraph here and there about Lucrezia but it basically talk more about her father Cardinal Rodrigo de Borgia aka Pope Alexander VI and her brother Ceasere and her relationship with her brother Ceasere.
The second half is more Lucrezia and her life with her third husband Alfonso d'Este and it was interesting to read but the book itself didn't feel like it was biography on Lucrezia life from the being born in Borgia family to later in life. It read more like snippets of her early life with her father and brothers in Rome but then you get paragraph of Rodrigo and his term as Pope or Ceasere and the power he gained after. It seem the author went into more depth in Lucrezia life when she was Alfonso than when she was younger.
The second half is more Lucrezia and her life with her third husband Alfonso d'Este and it was interesting to read but the book itself didn't feel like it was biography on Lucrezia life from the being born in Borgia family to later in life. It read more like snippets of her early life with her father and brothers in Rome but then you get paragraph of Rodrigo and his term as Pope or Ceasere and the power he gained after. It seem the author went into more depth in Lucrezia life when she was Alfonso than when she was younger.
October 20, 2023
first, because i always forget, hats off to the audiobook narrator lorna raver, who read this with particular relish and who even at 1.45x speed was great to listen to.
a bang up history, though its abundantly obvious bradford is obsessed with cesare and much of the vivre of her narration faded when he died. its also not her fault that a substantial segment of lucrezia's correspondence is missing from around a decade of her life. never the less, what we do have and the source's bradford does select paints a vibrant and material picture. lucrezia borgia you will always be famous.
a bang up history, though its abundantly obvious bradford is obsessed with cesare and much of the vivre of her narration faded when he died. its also not her fault that a substantial segment of lucrezia's correspondence is missing from around a decade of her life. never the less, what we do have and the source's bradford does select paints a vibrant and material picture. lucrezia borgia you will always be famous.
Shelved as 'want-to-read-do-not-own'
October 13, 2017Made it about 1/3 of the way through, but just not my style. I had issues keeping track of who was who and what was going on. I would like to find a different bio of Lucrezia to try in the future, but at the same time I think it's just the time and place that I'm having issues with...
December 29, 2011
While this is clearly a thoroughly well researched book it somehow still leaves me knowing very little about Lucrezia Borgia, maybe this is because so much of the detail of her life is known only through the letters of the other people in her world. Unfortunately for Sarah Bradford it seems that there just isn't enough evidence to support or refute any claims about Lucrezia, and she remains a largely shadowy figure. This book seems to not quite know what it is trying to be, it's not informative enough to be a purely academic text but also not entertaining enough to be a 'light read'.
The detail Bradford lavishes on some aspects of Lucrezia's life is in places absorbing however it is strikingly out of place when compared with the vast gaps she leaves in others areas of the contemporary society or culture. For instance numerous chunks of text are given over to describing the various cloths Lucrezia used for her dresses but not once is there any explanation of the seeming custom of adultery prevalent amongst aristocratic society at this time.
All in all I felt I was left rather cold by this work, although I did gain insight into a few details of Lucrezia's life, such as her grooming regime, there seems very little evidence of a real person on the pages of this book. The bold claim that this work will in some way expose new thinking or diminish previous assumptions about a much maligned figure in history is simply unsupportable, Lucrezia remains a mystery but I feel very much that it is not because she is an enigmatic, chameleon-like personality with an almost mystical or legendary presence but much more because she was simply an aristocratic lady who like many others mentioned in this book did what was customary - that is necessary, to get by.
The detail Bradford lavishes on some aspects of Lucrezia's life is in places absorbing however it is strikingly out of place when compared with the vast gaps she leaves in others areas of the contemporary society or culture. For instance numerous chunks of text are given over to describing the various cloths Lucrezia used for her dresses but not once is there any explanation of the seeming custom of adultery prevalent amongst aristocratic society at this time.
All in all I felt I was left rather cold by this work, although I did gain insight into a few details of Lucrezia's life, such as her grooming regime, there seems very little evidence of a real person on the pages of this book. The bold claim that this work will in some way expose new thinking or diminish previous assumptions about a much maligned figure in history is simply unsupportable, Lucrezia remains a mystery but I feel very much that it is not because she is an enigmatic, chameleon-like personality with an almost mystical or legendary presence but much more because she was simply an aristocratic lady who like many others mentioned in this book did what was customary - that is necessary, to get by.
September 10, 2012
Sorry to say, but this book is a total pile-on of confusing names, dates and setups that still have not delivered for me 1/3 of the way in. This one was a hard slog and I give up. This book needed a better editor, who should of told Ms. brdford to stop packing so much in .... I mean just read here acknowlegment page with out your eyes going cross. I think good history should put things into context and tell a compelling story, give possible insights and illuminate the past. Also a book on Lucezia Borgia should cast the main character center stage or at least partly, this book failed to do this for me. Can any one suggest another book on Lucrezia Borgia that is factual, coherent and keeps your interest?
November 20, 2008
How can a biography can ruined? By being nothing more than a chronology of events. There was little insight; the author attempted to cleanse Lucrezia of her awful reputation, which is laudable, I suppose. But for God's sake, she could have infused a little passion into her writing! Sadly, it was boring, boring, boring -- I couldn't finish it.
November 4, 2022
Bradford gave a fantastic overview of Lucrezia Borgia’s life in this biography! The slight humour she integrated into this book (from the artwork depicting Lucrezia being inserted into the myth of Paris choosing between the three goddesses but forsaking them all for Lucrezia to repeatedly describing Juan as worthless, unprompted) really elevated my enjoyment and engagement of Bradford’s writing style!
It was curious that Bradford seemed to view Cesare Borgia and Machiavelli in a relatively positive light, omitting many of their crimes and faults that have been highlighted in other biographies, but I can understand this omission if it was done to avoid diverging from Lucrezia’s story too much. I loved how Lucrezia’s love for her children was conveyed so earnestly, especially how it clearly pained her to have to be away from her oldest son Rodrigo for so long.
My only complaint is that in the last few chapters, from the time that Lucrezia was recognized as the Duchess of Ferrara, the book felt a little rushed. I got the sense that the author sped through these final years (and maybe this is just a product of limited sources to draw from). Certainly though, there was something missing in the last 70-80 pages, especially since there were seemingly endless descriptions of the food served at feasts and the dresses people wore— but somehow, there was limited information about the players involved in much of the political drama. At one point, three of Lucrezia’s children are first mentioned as having been born within just one paragraph. I wish this book was longer/the pacing was better, as the wrap-up felt hastily done.
Overall though, this book lived up to my expectations!
Bradford compiled all the necessary information to make it clear that Lucrezia Borgia was NOT the caricature of a poison-obsessed, incestuous, self-serving seductress that popular media and history make her out to be. She seemed distinct in personality and character, especially in situations where she was torn between two factions at war/in conflict, and it was telling that nearly everyone Lucrezia met thought highly of her. This book achieves what it sought out to do in highlighting the story of the real Lucrezia Borgia with care and thoughtfulness, so I’m rating it as a solid 4/5!
It was curious that Bradford seemed to view Cesare Borgia and Machiavelli in a relatively positive light, omitting many of their crimes and faults that have been highlighted in other biographies, but I can understand this omission if it was done to avoid diverging from Lucrezia’s story too much. I loved how Lucrezia’s love for her children was conveyed so earnestly, especially how it clearly pained her to have to be away from her oldest son Rodrigo for so long.
My only complaint is that in the last few chapters, from the time that Lucrezia was recognized as the Duchess of Ferrara, the book felt a little rushed. I got the sense that the author sped through these final years (and maybe this is just a product of limited sources to draw from). Certainly though, there was something missing in the last 70-80 pages, especially since there were seemingly endless descriptions of the food served at feasts and the dresses people wore— but somehow, there was limited information about the players involved in much of the political drama. At one point, three of Lucrezia’s children are first mentioned as having been born within just one paragraph. I wish this book was longer/the pacing was better, as the wrap-up felt hastily done.
Overall though, this book lived up to my expectations!
Bradford compiled all the necessary information to make it clear that Lucrezia Borgia was NOT the caricature of a poison-obsessed, incestuous, self-serving seductress that popular media and history make her out to be. She seemed distinct in personality and character, especially in situations where she was torn between two factions at war/in conflict, and it was telling that nearly everyone Lucrezia met thought highly of her. This book achieves what it sought out to do in highlighting the story of the real Lucrezia Borgia with care and thoughtfulness, so I’m rating it as a solid 4/5!
November 14, 2023
Ever since my obsession with the Borgia family began a few years ago, I have been intrigued by the figure of Lucrezia Borgia, as she tends to be overshadowed in literature by both her father and brother.
This biography brings to a forefront her life in Ferrara. There, as a duchess, she finally was able to shine in diplomatic affairs, and put to use all the administrative knowledge she had acquired from her time in Rome. Bradford does justice to Lucrezia’s formidable character despite the many adversities she had to face throughout her life, ridding her of the sexualised and demonized version which popular literature has propagated, and giving her the space she deserves alongside Cesare and Rodrigo Borgia as a remarkable woman with an exceptional nature.
This biography brings to a forefront her life in Ferrara. There, as a duchess, she finally was able to shine in diplomatic affairs, and put to use all the administrative knowledge she had acquired from her time in Rome. Bradford does justice to Lucrezia’s formidable character despite the many adversities she had to face throughout her life, ridding her of the sexualised and demonized version which popular literature has propagated, and giving her the space she deserves alongside Cesare and Rodrigo Borgia as a remarkable woman with an exceptional nature.
January 2, 2022
A thorough and well written bio of a much maligned character. Bradfords whole Borgia series are excellent, thorough and objective.
September 1, 2023
Compellingly written and easy to read, full of intriguing details! I feel like this was a good portrait of a life which we can’t know more about with great certainty - most of Lucretia’s life can be pieced together through the letters of hers and of other leading Renaissance figures - they were certainly prolific letter writers!
December 27, 2019
Misschien voor iemand, die goed onderlegd is in de materie. Maar als lectuur om iets bij te leren over Lucrezia Borgia is het volgens mij niet geschikt. Gewoon een opsomming van namen en politieke manoeuvres.
February 25, 2014
When I finished this book:
Several years ago I was preparing to go to Europe for the first time. I was at Costco one day and I was finishing up my trip with the usual stop at the book table when I saw this book. With grandiose intentions I thought "Oh Natalie! Wouldn't you be so smart to read all about the European countries you're going to visit. And look! Here is a book about Lucrezia Borgia! Lucrezia = Borgias = Italy! Brilliant!"
I started this book thinking it would be the first in a long line of history books that would sufficiently prepare me for my trip. I read about 30 pages and that was the end of that. All of my intentions flew out the window and I went to Europe and still had the time of my life with only my high school European History knowledge to guide me.
This year I decided to clear off my to-read list. All those books at the top of the list have been mocking me. Especially the non-fiction and classic books that keep piling up. Not because I don't like reading those books, but because it's so much easier to grab some urban fantasy and lose myself in it. So as part of my new years resolution I set some goals to clear some of those puppies off the list and this book came up.
At the beginning of February I began reading this book with enthusiasm. This was the Borgias! Love and Scandal! This was going to be good. As the pages droned on, my zeal slowly failed. Somehow Bradford managed to take one of the most intriguing families in the world and reduce them to boring lists and statistics.
Did I learn a lot? Yes, I really did. I feel completely confident discussing medieval Italian politics with all interested parties. Was this book about Lucrezia? Not really. I was hoping to learn more about this, often infamous, lady, but this book wasn't about her. It was about the men that surrounded her. This book should have been entitled: "An Informative Dialogue on Italian Politics During the Reign of the Borgias" Now, doesn't that sound like a thriller?
I usually just stop reading books that aren't that interesting. I am not afraid of filling that DNF shelf right up. Since I bought this stupid book and it was the second book on my yearly goal list, I think it became kind of a "MUST BEAT THE BOOK" situation.
So I persevered. Every night when I read I would check how many pages I had left and see how many pages I'd have to read a day to finish before the end of February. Then I'd try to push myself to read just a few more pages so I could finish it faster.
I feel kind of cheated. I wanted to learn about Lucrezia. Reading between the excessive paragraphs about her clothes and the food she served, I actually think she was one smart lady. She deserves to have an awesome bio written about her. I think Bradford was trying SO HARD to stick straight to the facts and not make ANY inferences that she made Lucrezia lifeless. She was totally flat. It was like we were always on the periphery, trying to get closer to Lucrezia, but never allowed in.
I expect history writers to make inferences. I expect them to bring these ancient characters to life. That's what makes history so interesting. I know that no one can ever know EXACTLY what happened, but biographers spend so much time studying their subjects, I trust them. Even when I don't agree, I like to see way more life in my history books.
Big let down on this one. Would not recommend to anyone.
Several years ago I was preparing to go to Europe for the first time. I was at Costco one day and I was finishing up my trip with the usual stop at the book table when I saw this book. With grandiose intentions I thought "Oh Natalie! Wouldn't you be so smart to read all about the European countries you're going to visit. And look! Here is a book about Lucrezia Borgia! Lucrezia = Borgias = Italy! Brilliant!"
I started this book thinking it would be the first in a long line of history books that would sufficiently prepare me for my trip. I read about 30 pages and that was the end of that. All of my intentions flew out the window and I went to Europe and still had the time of my life with only my high school European History knowledge to guide me.
This year I decided to clear off my to-read list. All those books at the top of the list have been mocking me. Especially the non-fiction and classic books that keep piling up. Not because I don't like reading those books, but because it's so much easier to grab some urban fantasy and lose myself in it. So as part of my new years resolution I set some goals to clear some of those puppies off the list and this book came up.
At the beginning of February I began reading this book with enthusiasm. This was the Borgias! Love and Scandal! This was going to be good. As the pages droned on, my zeal slowly failed. Somehow Bradford managed to take one of the most intriguing families in the world and reduce them to boring lists and statistics.
Did I learn a lot? Yes, I really did. I feel completely confident discussing medieval Italian politics with all interested parties. Was this book about Lucrezia? Not really. I was hoping to learn more about this, often infamous, lady, but this book wasn't about her. It was about the men that surrounded her. This book should have been entitled: "An Informative Dialogue on Italian Politics During the Reign of the Borgias" Now, doesn't that sound like a thriller?
I usually just stop reading books that aren't that interesting. I am not afraid of filling that DNF shelf right up. Since I bought this stupid book and it was the second book on my yearly goal list, I think it became kind of a "MUST BEAT THE BOOK" situation.
So I persevered. Every night when I read I would check how many pages I had left and see how many pages I'd have to read a day to finish before the end of February. Then I'd try to push myself to read just a few more pages so I could finish it faster.
I feel kind of cheated. I wanted to learn about Lucrezia. Reading between the excessive paragraphs about her clothes and the food she served, I actually think she was one smart lady. She deserves to have an awesome bio written about her. I think Bradford was trying SO HARD to stick straight to the facts and not make ANY inferences that she made Lucrezia lifeless. She was totally flat. It was like we were always on the periphery, trying to get closer to Lucrezia, but never allowed in.
I expect history writers to make inferences. I expect them to bring these ancient characters to life. That's what makes history so interesting. I know that no one can ever know EXACTLY what happened, but biographers spend so much time studying their subjects, I trust them. Even when I don't agree, I like to see way more life in my history books.
Big let down on this one. Would not recommend to anyone.
September 19, 2010
This was a wonderful biography---and one of the few honest ones of Lucrezia Borgia out there. Most bios before a certain time are to be avoided--littered with inaccuracies and downright slander. Also usually far too filled with information on her illustrious if somewhat decadent family. This book truly focuses on Lucrezia herself. It starts with her beginnings and a nice overview of the warring families and duchys that made up Italy at the time and from which she sprung.
The book pretty quickly debunks most myths about Lucrezia which is long overdue. Far from the poisoning, incestous creature she is described as in most books,or films and even history books or the simpering, slightly soft headed child of fate, controlled equally by her brother and father, Lucrezia evolves as a very human, and very interesting woman of her times.
Starting with her strange childhood as the bastard child of a pope and ending with her days as the acclaimed and much loved Duchess of Ferrarra this book covers it all, using her existing letters as well as descriptions and histories by less biased folks of the time. What emerges is a portrait of a complicated, beautiful, wily, charming and religous woman who despite committing the same sins as any human might commit, is often colored as blackly as her sociopathic brother Cesare. She is even quite a feminist figure, ruling Ferrarra in her husband's absences (quite frequent) and deeply respected by poets, artists and writers of the times as a cultured, intelligent and kind woman.
Having been fascinated by Lucrezia since I was a child (I read my first book about her at the age of 10) and always wondering what the truth was about her life, I was quite pleased to find a really detailed and in depth look at her life to add to my own opinion of the lady.
The book pretty quickly debunks most myths about Lucrezia which is long overdue. Far from the poisoning, incestous creature she is described as in most books,or films and even history books or the simpering, slightly soft headed child of fate, controlled equally by her brother and father, Lucrezia evolves as a very human, and very interesting woman of her times.
Starting with her strange childhood as the bastard child of a pope and ending with her days as the acclaimed and much loved Duchess of Ferrarra this book covers it all, using her existing letters as well as descriptions and histories by less biased folks of the time. What emerges is a portrait of a complicated, beautiful, wily, charming and religous woman who despite committing the same sins as any human might commit, is often colored as blackly as her sociopathic brother Cesare. She is even quite a feminist figure, ruling Ferrarra in her husband's absences (quite frequent) and deeply respected by poets, artists and writers of the times as a cultured, intelligent and kind woman.
Having been fascinated by Lucrezia since I was a child (I read my first book about her at the age of 10) and always wondering what the truth was about her life, I was quite pleased to find a really detailed and in depth look at her life to add to my own opinion of the lady.
January 6, 2010
Bradford achieved fame for an apparently first rate retelling of the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I have not read that book but I hope it is better than the current one. A deplorable trend is building steam among historians, and hence, biographers, that literary license makes for bad history. Therefore, we get a chronological detail of the events of the Borgia dynasty, heavy on factual information that is well researched from the vaults of the Vatican and quick paced in narrative, but light on interpretation and psychological analysis or character speculation. These biographers seem to misunderstand that history is the art of interpretation, not the gathering of static facts. The point of this particular biography seems to be to salvage the reputation of Alexander Borgia's only daughter. Maligned throughout history as a witch, whore, and murderess, Ms. Bradford felt the need to point out that most history has been mysogynist and sexist and Lucrezia might not have deserved the bleak reputation history has stuck to her. Duh. The descriminating reader would do well to read an older, more mysogynistic, but better written and braver biography while at the same time keeping in mind that women are people too.
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