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Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia: Brother & Sister of History's Most Vilified Family
This myth-busting biography reveals the fascinating true lives of Renaissance Italy's most infamous brother and sister.
Salacious rumors have shrouded the Borgia family for centuries. In particular, tales of murder and incest have stuck to the names of Cesare and Lucrezia. But in this enlightening biography, Samantha Morris separates fact from fiction, presenting these two fascinating individuals from their early lives, through their years at the Vatican and their untimely deaths.
Morris begins her narrative in the bustling metropolis of Rome, where the siblings were caught up in the dynastic plans of their father, Pope Alexander VI. Though they were not the villains depicted in popular media, their intertwined lives were full of ambition, intrigue, and danger. Drawing on both primary and secondary sources, Morris follows Cesare through his cardinalship and military career, and Lucrezia through her multiple arranged marriages and her rule over Spoleto.
Salacious rumors have shrouded the Borgia family for centuries. In particular, tales of murder and incest have stuck to the names of Cesare and Lucrezia. But in this enlightening biography, Samantha Morris separates fact from fiction, presenting these two fascinating individuals from their early lives, through their years at the Vatican and their untimely deaths.
Morris begins her narrative in the bustling metropolis of Rome, where the siblings were caught up in the dynastic plans of their father, Pope Alexander VI. Though they were not the villains depicted in popular media, their intertwined lives were full of ambition, intrigue, and danger. Drawing on both primary and secondary sources, Morris follows Cesare through his cardinalship and military career, and Lucrezia through her multiple arranged marriages and her rule over Spoleto.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2020
3 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Morris
7 books35 followersSamantha Morris studied archaeology at the University of Winchester where her interest in the history of the Italian Renaissance began. Since graduating University, her interest in the Borgia family has grown to such an extent that she is always looking for new information on the subject as well as fighting against the age-old rumours that haunt them. Her first published book is Cesare Borgia in a Nutshell, a brief biography which aims to dispel the myths surrounding a key member of the Borgia family. She runs the popular Borgia website https: //theborgiabull.com/
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 1, 2021
Samantha Morris has an assured, confident, sharp grasp of Renaissance Italy and she does not disappoint in this dual biography of its most notorious siblings. I read this just as I was starting work on a research project, so there might admittedly be an element of nostalgia as it was one of the last books I read before a deadline kicked in. Still, even allowing for that fondness, this book is a compassionate, thoroughly researched yet accessibly written, convincing and intelligent account of the Borgia siblings - from a writer who I think will establish herself as one of the popular experts in the field.
September 22, 2020
A fine edition to add to the many books tackling these infamous siblings - in both fact and fiction.
Morris make a poignant remark: "... now, as throughout history, people love a good gossip ...", and like us today, they "... want stories that both disgust them and draw them in ...". In their own time, Cesare and Lucrezia are the equivalent of today's Kardashians or Osbornes.
Delving into the family history from its Spanish roots, Morris provides the reader with a concise background of the family including Rodrigo's rise to the Papal throne up until the siblings draw final breath. But the focus here is on the two siblings - Cesare and Lucrezia - as opposed to a complete history of all Borgias. In this easy to read and well presented tome, all the main events are covered off - we are not bogged down in unnecessary detail so readers new to this topic will have no trouble at all keeping pace. For me, I love the Borgias, so much of this was well worn and familiar ground.
Gossip and hearsay were the weapons of the day that were used to destroy reputation - not only powerful, but also long lasting that like a series of chinese whispers, people begin to accept them as truths using that old adage "no smoke without fire" to justify such. And we are more than accustomed to history being written by the victors -as poor old Richard III can attest.
It is easy to forget that what is unseemly to our modern view and sensibilities was very much the norm - here, family is so important, that it is not strange at all to discover that Cesare and Lucrezia were close - afterall, it was the Borgias against the world - who else would they turn to and trust but one of their own.
Morris finishes by taking the reader through the various modern day adaptions of the Borgia story - from film and television, to game and books. Having just taken possession of yet another book on the Borgias, Morris' book will also find a home on my "Borgia" shelf in my personal library.
Morris make a poignant remark: "... now, as throughout history, people love a good gossip ...", and like us today, they "... want stories that both disgust them and draw them in ...". In their own time, Cesare and Lucrezia are the equivalent of today's Kardashians or Osbornes.
Delving into the family history from its Spanish roots, Morris provides the reader with a concise background of the family including Rodrigo's rise to the Papal throne up until the siblings draw final breath. But the focus here is on the two siblings - Cesare and Lucrezia - as opposed to a complete history of all Borgias. In this easy to read and well presented tome, all the main events are covered off - we are not bogged down in unnecessary detail so readers new to this topic will have no trouble at all keeping pace. For me, I love the Borgias, so much of this was well worn and familiar ground.
Gossip and hearsay were the weapons of the day that were used to destroy reputation - not only powerful, but also long lasting that like a series of chinese whispers, people begin to accept them as truths using that old adage "no smoke without fire" to justify such. And we are more than accustomed to history being written by the victors -as poor old Richard III can attest.
It is easy to forget that what is unseemly to our modern view and sensibilities was very much the norm - here, family is so important, that it is not strange at all to discover that Cesare and Lucrezia were close - afterall, it was the Borgias against the world - who else would they turn to and trust but one of their own.
Morris finishes by taking the reader through the various modern day adaptions of the Borgia story - from film and television, to game and books. Having just taken possession of yet another book on the Borgias, Morris' book will also find a home on my "Borgia" shelf in my personal library.
September 22, 2020
Well documented and objective biography. Puts a new light on the lives of the Borgia family. The author provided many new information about this highly controversial family. If you've watched the Borgias, you'll enjoy this very much. Much thanks to the author for granting me a copy.
May 2, 2025
Eschewing the many unfounded salacious rumours still abounding about the Borgia family, Morris presents an engaging, well researched and unbiased portrait of these two (in)famous siblings and their eventful lives.
January 6, 2021
True story behind the infamous Borgia myth.
The Borgias produced three personalities whose fame shines through the ages: Rodrigo de Borja (later spelled Borgia) who became Pope Alexander VI, and his children, the beautiful Lucrezia and the ill-fated Cesare.
Although they lived and died more than 500 years ago, the Borgias are famous because of the enduring myth that they were liars, adulterers and murderers.
What is the truth?
Samantha Morris leads us on a journey through the endlessly fascinating lives of Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia, Pope Alexander VI’s illegitimate children. Impeccable research shines through on every page. Morris places us firmly in the fifteenth century Italy, taking us on a journey through the lavishly decorated royal palaces to the muddy battlefields were Cesare’s military reputation was made.
If you are looking for facts, you’ll find them in Morris’s book. This author’s admiration of the Borgia family doesn’t cloud her judgment – she strips them of myths and presents a highly readable myth-buster, with exquisite and interesting details (like Cesare’s wedding night!).
Highly recommended to all history enthusiasts.
The Borgias produced three personalities whose fame shines through the ages: Rodrigo de Borja (later spelled Borgia) who became Pope Alexander VI, and his children, the beautiful Lucrezia and the ill-fated Cesare.
Although they lived and died more than 500 years ago, the Borgias are famous because of the enduring myth that they were liars, adulterers and murderers.
What is the truth?
Samantha Morris leads us on a journey through the endlessly fascinating lives of Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia, Pope Alexander VI’s illegitimate children. Impeccable research shines through on every page. Morris places us firmly in the fifteenth century Italy, taking us on a journey through the lavishly decorated royal palaces to the muddy battlefields were Cesare’s military reputation was made.
If you are looking for facts, you’ll find them in Morris’s book. This author’s admiration of the Borgia family doesn’t cloud her judgment – she strips them of myths and presents a highly readable myth-buster, with exquisite and interesting details (like Cesare’s wedding night!).
Highly recommended to all history enthusiasts.
October 20, 2020
I liked this! It dispelled a lot of scandalous “history” with real facts. I liked the history of the Borgia family and the various regions of Italy. The final chapter that talked about the various media depictions about the family through the years was also interesting. If this is an area of history you are interested in, or if you want to see how rumors and innuendo can continue for so many centuries, I would recommend this book!
I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
August 9, 2021
I thank Rosie Croft, from Pen & Sword, for providing me a hardback early copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
I have long been fascinated by the Borgias, (Borja). Partly, I guess, because they were a Spanish family (dynasty?); partly, because the legend surrounding them (Pope Alexander VI and his even more infamous children, Cesare and Lucrezia) is so full of colour and extreme and criminal behaviours, that they sound much bigger than life, characters that if we came across them in a work of fiction we’d say they were too unbelievable. Writers of extreme thrillers and horror would have to push their creative buttons to the maximum come up with characters such as those.
I’d always wondered how much of what was said about them was true, and of that, how many of those behaviours were unusual or unexpected in the period. XV century Europe was not a particularly peaceful and enlightened place, and being powerful and rich conferred a lot more license to the individuals than it does nowadays (not that these days it is something to be ignored either, as we all know, but the social differences were abysmal at the time). When I saw Morris’s book, I couldn’t resist, and she does a great job of answering many of my doubts and trying to be as comprehensive and fair as possible when studying the lives and reputations of those two historical figures.
Morris starts (after the acknowledgements) by an introduction where she explains her interest and her reasons for writing this book, a labour of love, as she has studied the period, written other books, and keeps a regular blog about the Italian Renaissance, and the Borgias in particular. She explains that there is plenty of misinformation and rumours that have been shared and repeated, both in academic/historical sources, and also in popular literature and entertainment, and she is at pains to put this right.
She follows a chronological order in telling the lives of the Borgias, starting with a chapter on the background family history, and she then dedicates the rest of the book to the close family, focusing on the interaction of the father with his sons and daughter, but mostly on the lives of the two siblings, Cesare and Lucrezia.
The author does a great job of explaining the sources of her information, always distinguishing rumour (even when this rumour came from the era when the events took place) from fact, as far as the available sources allow. She also provides a good insight into the usual social behaviour of the era and the political struggles between the different actors, all trying their best to push their interests and ally themselves with whomever might best serve those at any given time. Betrayal is rife, allies changed at the drop of a hat, and there was much envy and prejudice against the Borgia family, as they were outsiders who had quickly risen to power in Italy, as Morris points out.
That does not mean that Pope Alexander or Cesare were harmless individuals. They schemed, they fought, and they killed, for sure, although perhaps not to the extent they were credited with, and probably not to a degree that differed from others in similar circumstances at that time. Machiavelli didn’t focus on Cesare Borgia in his book The Prince for nothing, that much is evident. Yet, in addition to his most cruel and atrocious behaviours, his reputation seems to have been darkened further by allegations and accusations unfounded and unproven. And yet, these have survived to this day.
The Lucrezia Borgia we discover in these pages is a woman who was manipulated and used by her father (and brother, to a lesser extent) as a way of gaining more influence and power (when she was very young, as was the norm at the time), who had little saying on the matter, and who later had to endure illness, traumatic losses, continuous pregnancies, miscarriages, and absent husbands, while looking after territories and properties she was left in charge of. It seems she was beloved by the inhabitants, she was good at defending the interests of her husband and the people of Ferrara, and she was pious and a fervent Catholic. She seems to have been close to her brother, but the rumours of incest seem unwarranted, and she was ill treated by her husbands, often seeking refuge in convents. The author often quotes letters and documents written by the protagonists, and I must admit I like the sound of Lucrezia, and although Cezare wasn’t a “nice and good” person by any stretch of the imagination, I can see why somebody like Machiavelli would have taken him as subject of study. Boring, he was not.
The book also includes illustrations, a solid bibliography, and detailed notes, although this should not put people off, as the writing style is accessible, and people without specialised historical knowledge of the era will have no problem reading it. The author also talks about the depictions of the Borgias in popular culture and includes recommendations about the best and most historically accurate documentaries, movies, series, books, and novels, and this will prove very useful to those of us who want to learn more, but don’t want to waste our time with poorly sourced materials.
As I am not an expert on the subject, I cannot compare this book with others published before, but I found it a good entry point for people interested in finding out if the Borgias’ reputation is warranted, and to read about that fascinating period of history. It is a balanced account of the biography of these two figures, and I recommend it to readers who want to go beyond the titillation and excess that has surrounded their reputation.
I have long been fascinated by the Borgias, (Borja). Partly, I guess, because they were a Spanish family (dynasty?); partly, because the legend surrounding them (Pope Alexander VI and his even more infamous children, Cesare and Lucrezia) is so full of colour and extreme and criminal behaviours, that they sound much bigger than life, characters that if we came across them in a work of fiction we’d say they were too unbelievable. Writers of extreme thrillers and horror would have to push their creative buttons to the maximum come up with characters such as those.
I’d always wondered how much of what was said about them was true, and of that, how many of those behaviours were unusual or unexpected in the period. XV century Europe was not a particularly peaceful and enlightened place, and being powerful and rich conferred a lot more license to the individuals than it does nowadays (not that these days it is something to be ignored either, as we all know, but the social differences were abysmal at the time). When I saw Morris’s book, I couldn’t resist, and she does a great job of answering many of my doubts and trying to be as comprehensive and fair as possible when studying the lives and reputations of those two historical figures.
Morris starts (after the acknowledgements) by an introduction where she explains her interest and her reasons for writing this book, a labour of love, as she has studied the period, written other books, and keeps a regular blog about the Italian Renaissance, and the Borgias in particular. She explains that there is plenty of misinformation and rumours that have been shared and repeated, both in academic/historical sources, and also in popular literature and entertainment, and she is at pains to put this right.
She follows a chronological order in telling the lives of the Borgias, starting with a chapter on the background family history, and she then dedicates the rest of the book to the close family, focusing on the interaction of the father with his sons and daughter, but mostly on the lives of the two siblings, Cesare and Lucrezia.
The author does a great job of explaining the sources of her information, always distinguishing rumour (even when this rumour came from the era when the events took place) from fact, as far as the available sources allow. She also provides a good insight into the usual social behaviour of the era and the political struggles between the different actors, all trying their best to push their interests and ally themselves with whomever might best serve those at any given time. Betrayal is rife, allies changed at the drop of a hat, and there was much envy and prejudice against the Borgia family, as they were outsiders who had quickly risen to power in Italy, as Morris points out.
That does not mean that Pope Alexander or Cesare were harmless individuals. They schemed, they fought, and they killed, for sure, although perhaps not to the extent they were credited with, and probably not to a degree that differed from others in similar circumstances at that time. Machiavelli didn’t focus on Cesare Borgia in his book The Prince for nothing, that much is evident. Yet, in addition to his most cruel and atrocious behaviours, his reputation seems to have been darkened further by allegations and accusations unfounded and unproven. And yet, these have survived to this day.
The Lucrezia Borgia we discover in these pages is a woman who was manipulated and used by her father (and brother, to a lesser extent) as a way of gaining more influence and power (when she was very young, as was the norm at the time), who had little saying on the matter, and who later had to endure illness, traumatic losses, continuous pregnancies, miscarriages, and absent husbands, while looking after territories and properties she was left in charge of. It seems she was beloved by the inhabitants, she was good at defending the interests of her husband and the people of Ferrara, and she was pious and a fervent Catholic. She seems to have been close to her brother, but the rumours of incest seem unwarranted, and she was ill treated by her husbands, often seeking refuge in convents. The author often quotes letters and documents written by the protagonists, and I must admit I like the sound of Lucrezia, and although Cezare wasn’t a “nice and good” person by any stretch of the imagination, I can see why somebody like Machiavelli would have taken him as subject of study. Boring, he was not.
The book also includes illustrations, a solid bibliography, and detailed notes, although this should not put people off, as the writing style is accessible, and people without specialised historical knowledge of the era will have no problem reading it. The author also talks about the depictions of the Borgias in popular culture and includes recommendations about the best and most historically accurate documentaries, movies, series, books, and novels, and this will prove very useful to those of us who want to learn more, but don’t want to waste our time with poorly sourced materials.
As I am not an expert on the subject, I cannot compare this book with others published before, but I found it a good entry point for people interested in finding out if the Borgias’ reputation is warranted, and to read about that fascinating period of history. It is a balanced account of the biography of these two figures, and I recommend it to readers who want to go beyond the titillation and excess that has surrounded their reputation.
June 14, 2021
This book is a strong introduction to the lives of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, and a useful starting point for study of the entire Borgia "canon." Readable and accessible, it is nevertheless well-documented and well-researched, amply footnoted for the serious reader while not bogging down in details which will turn off the general reader.
Cesare and Lucrezia were the subject of controversy and gossip in their lifetimes, including the rumors spread by her former husband that they had an incestuous relationship. Samantha Morris does a good job of explaining how these salacious rumors began and that they were spread by her former husband during the end of their marriage. She also presents a reasoned approach for clearing Cesare of the murder of his younger brother. However, she decidedly does not clear him of other crimes, something I appreciate because it is easy to dismiss all of the charges against him given the absurdity of some of them. Basically, anyone who died within 200 miles of him was rumored to have been murdered by Cesare, even when he had no motive or opportunity. However, some of his crimes are very real and deserve acknowledgement. So too does his military competence. She makes the excellent point that he fell less as a result of mistakes than being completely cornered. One concludes that Cesare played a bad hand as well as anyone could have.
Lucrezia is examined in less depth than Cesare, which I realize is due to being less-documented at many points in her life because of her sex. I do think that her relationships with her purported lovers during her third marriage could have borne more attention, given that they are fascinating men who found her equally compelling. In general, I thought that she was well presented and all of the major bases covered. The author has steered clear of some of the stranger theories that have popped up recently, including that the Infans Romanus died as a baby when his later life is well-attested.
Though it focuses on the siblings, this book also would be a good introduction to "Borgia canon" for the general reader. It does not go into great depth with papal politics or with other major figures, but that's not its aim. It does provide a very readable introduction to the various controversies, including a rebuttal of de Roos and Meyer which I agreed with entirely.
Five stars -- useful, energetic, and helpful.
Cesare and Lucrezia were the subject of controversy and gossip in their lifetimes, including the rumors spread by her former husband that they had an incestuous relationship. Samantha Morris does a good job of explaining how these salacious rumors began and that they were spread by her former husband during the end of their marriage. She also presents a reasoned approach for clearing Cesare of the murder of his younger brother. However, she decidedly does not clear him of other crimes, something I appreciate because it is easy to dismiss all of the charges against him given the absurdity of some of them. Basically, anyone who died within 200 miles of him was rumored to have been murdered by Cesare, even when he had no motive or opportunity. However, some of his crimes are very real and deserve acknowledgement. So too does his military competence. She makes the excellent point that he fell less as a result of mistakes than being completely cornered. One concludes that Cesare played a bad hand as well as anyone could have.
Lucrezia is examined in less depth than Cesare, which I realize is due to being less-documented at many points in her life because of her sex. I do think that her relationships with her purported lovers during her third marriage could have borne more attention, given that they are fascinating men who found her equally compelling. In general, I thought that she was well presented and all of the major bases covered. The author has steered clear of some of the stranger theories that have popped up recently, including that the Infans Romanus died as a baby when his later life is well-attested.
Though it focuses on the siblings, this book also would be a good introduction to "Borgia canon" for the general reader. It does not go into great depth with papal politics or with other major figures, but that's not its aim. It does provide a very readable introduction to the various controversies, including a rebuttal of de Roos and Meyer which I agreed with entirely.
Five stars -- useful, energetic, and helpful.
October 21, 2020
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Samantha Morris's book is a readable account of the lives of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, which attempts to present these two remarkable people in an objective light and to prove the awful rumours about them - murder, poison, incest and so on - were false.
I think the author was quite successful in her intent. She explains the political situation well and proves that there really weren't sound bases for the rumours about the Borgia, apart from the hatred of their enemies. I also liked the fact that, with Cesare in particular, she doesn't overly justify his most awful actions, but also highlights his remarkable talents, making him an overall complex and fascinating figure.
However, her theory is not always spelled out clearly, but she tends to relate the events one after another, often without much commentary, and this made the read a little dry and boring at times. I wished she had taken more time to analyze the people and the situations. Also, I wished more time was spent on Lucrezia's life. I felt like she only came into real focus after her father and her brother were dead. I guess this was because her life was less eventful than theirs, but she still had to face a lot of dire challenges, and I would have liked to see more of her.
In the end there is also a chapter where Morris discusses the Borgia in the modern culture, such as in books, tv shows and so on, which is very interesting.
All in all, a good read, even if a little dry, but I would recommend it.
Samantha Morris's book is a readable account of the lives of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, which attempts to present these two remarkable people in an objective light and to prove the awful rumours about them - murder, poison, incest and so on - were false.
I think the author was quite successful in her intent. She explains the political situation well and proves that there really weren't sound bases for the rumours about the Borgia, apart from the hatred of their enemies. I also liked the fact that, with Cesare in particular, she doesn't overly justify his most awful actions, but also highlights his remarkable talents, making him an overall complex and fascinating figure.
However, her theory is not always spelled out clearly, but she tends to relate the events one after another, often without much commentary, and this made the read a little dry and boring at times. I wished she had taken more time to analyze the people and the situations. Also, I wished more time was spent on Lucrezia's life. I felt like she only came into real focus after her father and her brother were dead. I guess this was because her life was less eventful than theirs, but she still had to face a lot of dire challenges, and I would have liked to see more of her.
In the end there is also a chapter where Morris discusses the Borgia in the modern culture, such as in books, tv shows and so on, which is very interesting.
All in all, a good read, even if a little dry, but I would recommend it.
November 20, 2020
History is written by the victors, and the for Borgias this appears to be particularly so. Vilified as incestuous, corrupt and violent, a family to be feared, their name has come down through the ages as a synonym for bad behaviour. The author sets out to prove this is not the full story and she does make a good argument.
According to her research, there is virtually no evidence that Cesare and Lucrezia were lovers. They were very much a product of their age, when men were expected to be strong and actions had to be taken to keep property or land which today would be frowned upon. However, despite some cruelty, Cesare was a respected war lord, he unified his dependencies and his vassals prospered under him. He was promiscuous, and did contract syphilis, but this was rife throughout the area at this time. Lucrezia was loved by her people, she married three times and had numerous pregnancies, particularly by her third husband, although she lost nearly all the children early on or as miscarriages. She was a pious woman, a good regent and while perhaps not always a strictly faithful wife, she lived well by her standards.
They were both Spaniards living in Italy, thrust into the limelight by their father Pope Alexander, and determined to improve the standing of their family at every opportunity, regardless of cost. They both had a strong sense of family and were clearly close.
The story the author portrays is quite sad really; both were buffeted by events over which they had little control. If Cesare had not ingested the poison that killed his father he would have been in a much better position to defend himself. Lucrezia had husbands found for her, she was not allowed to choose.
The book is well researched and my only complaint would be the use of some colloquial language which does not sit well in an academic book as well as some clumsy sentence structures. There were plenty of quotes from contemporary sources to back up the arguments being made.
The author brings the story up to date, detailing how Cesare and Lucrezia have been portrayed by Hollywood and modern films as well as detailing what happened to their descendents.
Overall a detailed account of the lives of two very interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
According to her research, there is virtually no evidence that Cesare and Lucrezia were lovers. They were very much a product of their age, when men were expected to be strong and actions had to be taken to keep property or land which today would be frowned upon. However, despite some cruelty, Cesare was a respected war lord, he unified his dependencies and his vassals prospered under him. He was promiscuous, and did contract syphilis, but this was rife throughout the area at this time. Lucrezia was loved by her people, she married three times and had numerous pregnancies, particularly by her third husband, although she lost nearly all the children early on or as miscarriages. She was a pious woman, a good regent and while perhaps not always a strictly faithful wife, she lived well by her standards.
They were both Spaniards living in Italy, thrust into the limelight by their father Pope Alexander, and determined to improve the standing of their family at every opportunity, regardless of cost. They both had a strong sense of family and were clearly close.
The story the author portrays is quite sad really; both were buffeted by events over which they had little control. If Cesare had not ingested the poison that killed his father he would have been in a much better position to defend himself. Lucrezia had husbands found for her, she was not allowed to choose.
The book is well researched and my only complaint would be the use of some colloquial language which does not sit well in an academic book as well as some clumsy sentence structures. There were plenty of quotes from contemporary sources to back up the arguments being made.
The author brings the story up to date, detailing how Cesare and Lucrezia have been portrayed by Hollywood and modern films as well as detailing what happened to their descendents.
Overall a detailed account of the lives of two very interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2020
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.
First line: In the small town of Borja, near Zaragoza in Spain, there were a large number of households who used the name ‘de Borja’.
Summary: Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia are remembered for many dark deeds during their time but most of what we “know” is not actually based on fact. They were not the incestuous siblings or murderers of enemies with poison. Samantha Morris gives us a look into the lives of the two most famous Borgias and how they got the reputation that still follows them, 500 years later.
My Thoughts: I first learned about the Borgia family from reading The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis. I loved the story of this notorious family. And then I fell in love with the TV show The Borgias on Starz. I knew that much of it was for TV or rumors surrounding the family but it made for good watching and intrigue.
I liked how the author started with the original rise of the family. I knew that the family was Spanish but to hear how tied to Spain they were was new to me. The politics of the time and the way the Pope had so much control is astounding. He controlled kings, armies and much of Italy. Today it seems like the Pope has very limited range and mainly sticks to religious issues. But I am not Catholic so my knowledge is very limited.
My favorite part was the time after the death of Alexander. I was not familiar with this time in their lives so I learned a lot. Cesare was a military genius. Lucrezia married multiple times and led a very religious life. I was happy to read more about them and find out how their stories ended.
FYI: I would recommend this for someone looking for the truth behind the drama.
First line: In the small town of Borja, near Zaragoza in Spain, there were a large number of households who used the name ‘de Borja’.
Summary: Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia are remembered for many dark deeds during their time but most of what we “know” is not actually based on fact. They were not the incestuous siblings or murderers of enemies with poison. Samantha Morris gives us a look into the lives of the two most famous Borgias and how they got the reputation that still follows them, 500 years later.
My Thoughts: I first learned about the Borgia family from reading The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis. I loved the story of this notorious family. And then I fell in love with the TV show The Borgias on Starz. I knew that much of it was for TV or rumors surrounding the family but it made for good watching and intrigue.
I liked how the author started with the original rise of the family. I knew that the family was Spanish but to hear how tied to Spain they were was new to me. The politics of the time and the way the Pope had so much control is astounding. He controlled kings, armies and much of Italy. Today it seems like the Pope has very limited range and mainly sticks to religious issues. But I am not Catholic so my knowledge is very limited.
My favorite part was the time after the death of Alexander. I was not familiar with this time in their lives so I learned a lot. Cesare was a military genius. Lucrezia married multiple times and led a very religious life. I was happy to read more about them and find out how their stories ended.
FYI: I would recommend this for someone looking for the truth behind the drama.
December 3, 2020
A decent look at two family members of the Italian Renaissance that you will likely see in any book about it. Good for those who have an interest in the Borgia's and want to look at either one of them.
October 23, 2020
A family mired in myths and rumors of incest, murder, and intrigue for centuries. A brother and sister caught in the middle, attracting the attention of gossips and historians alike. No, I am not referring to a royal family in England. In fact, this story starts in Spain with Alonso de Borja, who moved to Italy and helped create the infamous Borgia family. Caught in the middle were the son and daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, Alonso’s nephew, and his mistress Vanozza Cattanei; Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia. How close were these famous siblings? What were their lives really like? In Samantha Morris’ latest biography, “Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia: Brother and Sister of History’s Vilified Family”, she dives deep into the archives to find out the truth about the legendary Borgia family.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I will be honest and say that I did not know much about this family before I started reading this book. I knew about the rumors and that they had to do with the papacy, but that was it. I was excited to learn more about them and to understand why so many people are so fascinated with the Borgia siblings.
To understand how the Borgias rose to power, Morris takes her readers on a journey through papal history and the many different councils that occurred in the 14th and 15th centuries. This was familiar to me as I took a class in college on Church History, in which we did discuss these councils, but for those who are not familiar with them, Morris takes the time to explain the significance of each event. We see how Alonso de Borja rose through the ranks to become Pope Calixtus III and how his nephew, Rodrigo Borgia, was the complete opposite of his uncle. Rodrigo, later Pope Alexander VI, was a ladies man, and his children by his mistress, Vanozza Cattanei, were all illegitimate, including Cesare and Lucrezia.
It is the lives of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia that historians, including Morris, tend to focus on. These siblings created so many enemies that rumors were bound to be associated with them. From incest between them to murder using poison, and numerous affairs, Cesare and Lucrezia endured scandals that made the Tudors look like a normal family. Morris takes on each myth and rumor head on to explore the truth about these siblings, which is of course more complex than the fictional tales of their lives.
I found myself enthralled in the true-life tales of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia. Like most historical tales, the truth is much more compelling than the fictitious tales. The trials, triumphs, and tribulations of the siblings are so compelling and to realize that they lived when the Renaissance in Italy and the Tudor dynasty was still new in England is remarkable.
This book made me fall in love with the Borgia family. The story of their rise to greatness and what Cesare and Lucrezia had to endure to protect their family and its name was nothing short of extraordinary. Samantha Morris’s writing style is easy to understand but you can tell how much care she took in researching these simply sensational siblings. I want to study the Borgia family even more because of this book. If you want an engrossing nonfiction book about the Borgia family, I would highly suggest you read, “Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia: Brother and Sister of History’s Most Vilified Family” by Samantha Morris. A fabulous introduction to the Borgias and their tumultuous times.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I will be honest and say that I did not know much about this family before I started reading this book. I knew about the rumors and that they had to do with the papacy, but that was it. I was excited to learn more about them and to understand why so many people are so fascinated with the Borgia siblings.
To understand how the Borgias rose to power, Morris takes her readers on a journey through papal history and the many different councils that occurred in the 14th and 15th centuries. This was familiar to me as I took a class in college on Church History, in which we did discuss these councils, but for those who are not familiar with them, Morris takes the time to explain the significance of each event. We see how Alonso de Borja rose through the ranks to become Pope Calixtus III and how his nephew, Rodrigo Borgia, was the complete opposite of his uncle. Rodrigo, later Pope Alexander VI, was a ladies man, and his children by his mistress, Vanozza Cattanei, were all illegitimate, including Cesare and Lucrezia.
It is the lives of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia that historians, including Morris, tend to focus on. These siblings created so many enemies that rumors were bound to be associated with them. From incest between them to murder using poison, and numerous affairs, Cesare and Lucrezia endured scandals that made the Tudors look like a normal family. Morris takes on each myth and rumor head on to explore the truth about these siblings, which is of course more complex than the fictional tales of their lives.
I found myself enthralled in the true-life tales of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia. Like most historical tales, the truth is much more compelling than the fictitious tales. The trials, triumphs, and tribulations of the siblings are so compelling and to realize that they lived when the Renaissance in Italy and the Tudor dynasty was still new in England is remarkable.
This book made me fall in love with the Borgia family. The story of their rise to greatness and what Cesare and Lucrezia had to endure to protect their family and its name was nothing short of extraordinary. Samantha Morris’s writing style is easy to understand but you can tell how much care she took in researching these simply sensational siblings. I want to study the Borgia family even more because of this book. If you want an engrossing nonfiction book about the Borgia family, I would highly suggest you read, “Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia: Brother and Sister of History’s Most Vilified Family” by Samantha Morris. A fabulous introduction to the Borgias and their tumultuous times.
October 2, 2020
Whilst I was aware of the Borgia's I have never read much about them but recently I've been expanding my historical reading and interests outside of my usual scope so I was intrigued by this book from Samantha Morris who aims to dispel the rumours of incest murder and poisoning.
I will hold my hand up and admit I have watched the TV show so had a little understanding of who they were and the rumours surrounding them.
Whilst the title is self explanatory and Morris does focus on the siblings the rest of the family are by no means excluded. I was absorbed in to this book from the first page! Yes, its nonfiction but Morris' writing style makes it so easy to read.
The initial chapters focus on the background of the family, who they were and their rise to power before starting to focus on the siblings and the events that have led to them still being discussed hundreds of years later.
From the dispelling of rumours to the true stories of their successes and failings I am now very interested in reading more about the family.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Morris explains where rumours regarding the family such as incest and poison originated from and how they have been presented in modern day media. Morris analyses media such as the TV show and explains which are most historically correct.
Cesare led a very interesting albeit short life and seems to have been very successful as a soldier although clearly made a few enemies along the way. His journey from cardinal to a Duke and captain of the papal army is extremely interesting and an area i would like to read more about.
Lucrezia, often depicted as a woman who is not averse to using poison is portrayed as a pious woman who seems to have had affairs but also faced much grief in her life but who was loved by her people and had many admirers.
The book is referenced throughout providing me with more reading to now follow up with in my newly found interest of the Borgia's.
Between the TV show and reading this my opinion has changed of the family and I find myself admiring them in particular Lucrezia, whilst she may have had faults she faced a lot of heartbreak and enemies, her story is actually really sad.
As a newcomer to the Borgia's I found this book incredibly informative and interesting but I'm unsure if it would provide anything new to those who have already read or studied them. This book is clearly the result of much research and Morris obviously has a passion for the subject evident throughout which I think is part of the reason I found the book so engaging.
I would have liked to read more about specific battles Cesare faced and whether Lucrezia was ever caught out for her letters she sent but as an introduction to the family and the siblings I can't fault this book and would highly recommend to those who would like to learn more about this intriguing family.
I will hold my hand up and admit I have watched the TV show so had a little understanding of who they were and the rumours surrounding them.
Whilst the title is self explanatory and Morris does focus on the siblings the rest of the family are by no means excluded. I was absorbed in to this book from the first page! Yes, its nonfiction but Morris' writing style makes it so easy to read.
The initial chapters focus on the background of the family, who they were and their rise to power before starting to focus on the siblings and the events that have led to them still being discussed hundreds of years later.
From the dispelling of rumours to the true stories of their successes and failings I am now very interested in reading more about the family.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Morris explains where rumours regarding the family such as incest and poison originated from and how they have been presented in modern day media. Morris analyses media such as the TV show and explains which are most historically correct.
Cesare led a very interesting albeit short life and seems to have been very successful as a soldier although clearly made a few enemies along the way. His journey from cardinal to a Duke and captain of the papal army is extremely interesting and an area i would like to read more about.
Lucrezia, often depicted as a woman who is not averse to using poison is portrayed as a pious woman who seems to have had affairs but also faced much grief in her life but who was loved by her people and had many admirers.
The book is referenced throughout providing me with more reading to now follow up with in my newly found interest of the Borgia's.
Between the TV show and reading this my opinion has changed of the family and I find myself admiring them in particular Lucrezia, whilst she may have had faults she faced a lot of heartbreak and enemies, her story is actually really sad.
As a newcomer to the Borgia's I found this book incredibly informative and interesting but I'm unsure if it would provide anything new to those who have already read or studied them. This book is clearly the result of much research and Morris obviously has a passion for the subject evident throughout which I think is part of the reason I found the book so engaging.
I would have liked to read more about specific battles Cesare faced and whether Lucrezia was ever caught out for her letters she sent but as an introduction to the family and the siblings I can't fault this book and would highly recommend to those who would like to learn more about this intriguing family.
November 2, 2020
Italy’s most infamous siblings are brought to life in this fascinating book.
Like most people, I have been aware of the Borgia family through portrayals through the Showtime series The Borgias and novels from my youth.
What Samantha Morris has given us, is the real life facts behind these two fascinating individuals and help dispel the rumours that have been attached to the brother and sister for hundreds of years.
We are told of how Cesare was regarded as a fearless soldier and I marvel that he, with the name of Borgia, managed to have a successful career despite making numerous enemies along the way.
As to his sister, Lucrezia has been portrayed as a woman who was both calculating and a poisoner; however, Samantha Morris tells us that the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, was a strong and determined woman, loved by many and loyal to her family.
The incest rumours that go hand in hand with Cesare and Lucrezia are briefly addressed in the book, and evidence shows that those ridiculous rumours were started by their enemies to discredit the family.
The book is very well researched and that shows as the author gives us very detailed accounts and dates for the period.
If you want to learn more about these two maligned figures from Italian history, then this is the book for you.
Like most people, I have been aware of the Borgia family through portrayals through the Showtime series The Borgias and novels from my youth.
What Samantha Morris has given us, is the real life facts behind these two fascinating individuals and help dispel the rumours that have been attached to the brother and sister for hundreds of years.
We are told of how Cesare was regarded as a fearless soldier and I marvel that he, with the name of Borgia, managed to have a successful career despite making numerous enemies along the way.
As to his sister, Lucrezia has been portrayed as a woman who was both calculating and a poisoner; however, Samantha Morris tells us that the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, was a strong and determined woman, loved by many and loyal to her family.
The incest rumours that go hand in hand with Cesare and Lucrezia are briefly addressed in the book, and evidence shows that those ridiculous rumours were started by their enemies to discredit the family.
The book is very well researched and that shows as the author gives us very detailed accounts and dates for the period.
If you want to learn more about these two maligned figures from Italian history, then this is the book for you.
October 16, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I was delighted to receive a copy of this book as I have read a few Pen and Sword published works that I have really enjoyed and found very informative.
I had first encountered the Borgia family in Sarah Dunant’s fiction novels about this family. I very much enjoyed those books, but you always question in the back of your mind just how much of these lives have been fictionalised when you read a novel based on an actual life or event. I was relieved to read in this book that the author feels that Dunant’s novels were well researched and come pretty accurate to actual events.
I really found this book very informative. I think the author gave a fair but sensitive approach to the Borgia siblings- there’s no getting away from the murder, power plotting, and sexual misdemeanours that went on around them. However, the author does a good and well backed up argument, using primary and secondary evidence, that shows a lot of the scandal and hinted incest was most likely spread by Borgia enemies who were deliberately trying to discredit them.
A really fascinating read that I think will look stunning in physical print as well. There are some wonderful pictures at the end of this digital review copy that really help to set the scene and give a possible face to some of the names. Highly recommend.
I was delighted to receive a copy of this book as I have read a few Pen and Sword published works that I have really enjoyed and found very informative.
I had first encountered the Borgia family in Sarah Dunant’s fiction novels about this family. I very much enjoyed those books, but you always question in the back of your mind just how much of these lives have been fictionalised when you read a novel based on an actual life or event. I was relieved to read in this book that the author feels that Dunant’s novels were well researched and come pretty accurate to actual events.
I really found this book very informative. I think the author gave a fair but sensitive approach to the Borgia siblings- there’s no getting away from the murder, power plotting, and sexual misdemeanours that went on around them. However, the author does a good and well backed up argument, using primary and secondary evidence, that shows a lot of the scandal and hinted incest was most likely spread by Borgia enemies who were deliberately trying to discredit them.
A really fascinating read that I think will look stunning in physical print as well. There are some wonderful pictures at the end of this digital review copy that really help to set the scene and give a possible face to some of the names. Highly recommend.
April 22, 2023
If we think of the Renaissance, the great cultural, artistic and social current that swept Italy and Europe from the mid-fifteenth to the mid-sixteenth century, we clearly think of something positive, of "luminous", something that contrasts with the little known (and little appreciated) dark centuries between the classical and the modern age.
The reality is that even that period was marred by wars, plagues and a very low life expectancy. That sentence pronounced in "The Third Man" by Carol Reed has become famous (line not present in the book but inserted by the protagonist Orson Welles):
"In Italy, under the Borgias, for thirty years they had war, terror, murder, massacre but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, with five hundred years of brotherly love, democracy and peace what they produced ? The cuckoo clock. "
It is certainly an effective and "contrasting" phrase, but in a certain sense, it betrays a stereotype and a hard-to-die myth, namely that the Borgias were the worst of the worst, from a moral point of view and beyond , of the various rulers and powerful of the time. The book I am presenting to you today is a breath of fresh air in this dark myth as for the first time we are faced with a joint biography of two of the three protagonists of the Borgia family, Cesare and Lucrezia.
Samantha Morris, historian specialized in the Renaissance and in the Borgia family, leads us to know these two fascinating figures thanks to the use of primary and secondary sources, without having problems analyzing the behavior of the two brothers.
The biography, agile and pleasant, moves through the chambers of power and the "reason of state" of the time.
The two, along with other brothers, were sons of Rodrigo Borgia, a cardinal who later rose to the papal throne as Alexander VI and Vannozza Cattanei, a Roman (or maybe not) woman who had been his mistress for years. Like any ruler of the time, Pope Alexander was concerned about the preservation of the power of his Catalan family and therefore used his children as a pledge in the difficult situation of the Italian kingdoms of the time, in which more often than not, two of the great foreign powers broke in, France and Spain. Indeed, it can be said that Italian politics was (and was for many centuries) influenced by the factions that sided with one and the other nation. Samantha Morris moves easily in explaining the politics of the time, and this, as an Italian, I must say is admirable.
Another thing that catches the eye is the knowledge of the places that Morris has evidently visited in person.
The psychological analysis of the two characters relies on the profound differences between Cesare and Lucrezia. The impression is that Cesare was admired (first of all by the contemporary Machiavelli, who models his work "The Prince" on him) while Lucrezia did not know the glory she deserved, ending up the victim of unfounded rumors or real slander . In reality, if Cesare was a leader modeled on what for some centuries had been the man of arms and of government, it was Lucrezia who was the true woman of the Renaissance. Without taking anything away from Caesar, from his desire to change the destiny of Italy and unify its territories (or at least expand the papal domains of his father), it is Lucrezia who was truly revolutionary in her relationship with her subjects, especially in her experiences as Countess of Pesaro and Duchess of Ferrara. A woman certainly a pledge of "reason of state" as were all the women (and men) of powerful families of the time. But who never knew how to resign herself to being only a side figure and on the contrary often made up for the absence of her husbands in roles of real government (she had three husbands). At the same time, Caesar can be said to have constantly pursued "Fortuna" by being often rewarded but in reality in the end being disappointed and betrayed, with an end not worthy of his human and political-military past. Everything was based on the protective relationship of the Pope who when he died brought out all the hatred accumulated towards this huge and sprawling family that aroused the resentment of many of the powerful families of the time and especially of the successor of Alexander VI, Giovanni della Rovere, later known as the "Warrior Pope" Julius II. It is clear that in the relationship of Lucrezia and Cesare with the powerful of the time there is a before and an after, and this point coincides with the death of the Holy Father.
The book winds through 17 chapters, of which however I would like to point out the 16th, or "Cesare and Lucrezia in modern day media" which offers an interesting reflection on the stereotypical convention that Lucrezia was a woman of easy virtue aimed at poisoning husbands and enemies and that Caesar was her lover and a kind of psychopath (in the same way Pope Alexander comes out worse). It is really nice to read the analysis of the various recent and non-recent media that have treated the Borgias in the light of the true story of the book. It is obvious that there is often a tendency to novelize especially in films and TV series (the author of this review has only seen "Borgia" the TV series with Mark Ryder -Cesare- and Isolda Dychauk -Lucrezia- and he appreciated it enormously ) and that normally the writers choose to give a personal touch to the events, but the history of the Borgias is already exciting and unique in its own right. Similarly Morris offers us other fictional works created over the years and which are valued for their adherence to historical reality.
What more can I say? I greatly appreciated this book, as it describes exactly, against the background of the story of Lucrezia and Cesare, the Italy of the time, the various kingdoms, duchies and lordships and above all the human story of the two brothers and the Borgia family stands out, which really marked for thirty years or almost that world populated by fantastic characters that was the Italian Renaissance. For my part, investigating the history of my family, I discovered that two brothers, Pedro and Diego Ramirez, of whom I am a maternal descendant, fought first under the formidable Gonzalo de Cordoba and then under the orders of the Duke of Valentinois, Cesare Borgia, and this has brought me even closer to the story told in the beautiful book by Samantha Morris published by Pen & Sword.
The reality is that even that period was marred by wars, plagues and a very low life expectancy. That sentence pronounced in "The Third Man" by Carol Reed has become famous (line not present in the book but inserted by the protagonist Orson Welles):
"In Italy, under the Borgias, for thirty years they had war, terror, murder, massacre but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, with five hundred years of brotherly love, democracy and peace what they produced ? The cuckoo clock. "
It is certainly an effective and "contrasting" phrase, but in a certain sense, it betrays a stereotype and a hard-to-die myth, namely that the Borgias were the worst of the worst, from a moral point of view and beyond , of the various rulers and powerful of the time. The book I am presenting to you today is a breath of fresh air in this dark myth as for the first time we are faced with a joint biography of two of the three protagonists of the Borgia family, Cesare and Lucrezia.
Samantha Morris, historian specialized in the Renaissance and in the Borgia family, leads us to know these two fascinating figures thanks to the use of primary and secondary sources, without having problems analyzing the behavior of the two brothers.
The biography, agile and pleasant, moves through the chambers of power and the "reason of state" of the time.
The two, along with other brothers, were sons of Rodrigo Borgia, a cardinal who later rose to the papal throne as Alexander VI and Vannozza Cattanei, a Roman (or maybe not) woman who had been his mistress for years. Like any ruler of the time, Pope Alexander was concerned about the preservation of the power of his Catalan family and therefore used his children as a pledge in the difficult situation of the Italian kingdoms of the time, in which more often than not, two of the great foreign powers broke in, France and Spain. Indeed, it can be said that Italian politics was (and was for many centuries) influenced by the factions that sided with one and the other nation. Samantha Morris moves easily in explaining the politics of the time, and this, as an Italian, I must say is admirable.
Another thing that catches the eye is the knowledge of the places that Morris has evidently visited in person.
The psychological analysis of the two characters relies on the profound differences between Cesare and Lucrezia. The impression is that Cesare was admired (first of all by the contemporary Machiavelli, who models his work "The Prince" on him) while Lucrezia did not know the glory she deserved, ending up the victim of unfounded rumors or real slander . In reality, if Cesare was a leader modeled on what for some centuries had been the man of arms and of government, it was Lucrezia who was the true woman of the Renaissance. Without taking anything away from Caesar, from his desire to change the destiny of Italy and unify its territories (or at least expand the papal domains of his father), it is Lucrezia who was truly revolutionary in her relationship with her subjects, especially in her experiences as Countess of Pesaro and Duchess of Ferrara. A woman certainly a pledge of "reason of state" as were all the women (and men) of powerful families of the time. But who never knew how to resign herself to being only a side figure and on the contrary often made up for the absence of her husbands in roles of real government (she had three husbands). At the same time, Caesar can be said to have constantly pursued "Fortuna" by being often rewarded but in reality in the end being disappointed and betrayed, with an end not worthy of his human and political-military past. Everything was based on the protective relationship of the Pope who when he died brought out all the hatred accumulated towards this huge and sprawling family that aroused the resentment of many of the powerful families of the time and especially of the successor of Alexander VI, Giovanni della Rovere, later known as the "Warrior Pope" Julius II. It is clear that in the relationship of Lucrezia and Cesare with the powerful of the time there is a before and an after, and this point coincides with the death of the Holy Father.
The book winds through 17 chapters, of which however I would like to point out the 16th, or "Cesare and Lucrezia in modern day media" which offers an interesting reflection on the stereotypical convention that Lucrezia was a woman of easy virtue aimed at poisoning husbands and enemies and that Caesar was her lover and a kind of psychopath (in the same way Pope Alexander comes out worse). It is really nice to read the analysis of the various recent and non-recent media that have treated the Borgias in the light of the true story of the book. It is obvious that there is often a tendency to novelize especially in films and TV series (the author of this review has only seen "Borgia" the TV series with Mark Ryder -Cesare- and Isolda Dychauk -Lucrezia- and he appreciated it enormously ) and that normally the writers choose to give a personal touch to the events, but the history of the Borgias is already exciting and unique in its own right. Similarly Morris offers us other fictional works created over the years and which are valued for their adherence to historical reality.
What more can I say? I greatly appreciated this book, as it describes exactly, against the background of the story of Lucrezia and Cesare, the Italy of the time, the various kingdoms, duchies and lordships and above all the human story of the two brothers and the Borgia family stands out, which really marked for thirty years or almost that world populated by fantastic characters that was the Italian Renaissance. For my part, investigating the history of my family, I discovered that two brothers, Pedro and Diego Ramirez, of whom I am a maternal descendant, fought first under the formidable Gonzalo de Cordoba and then under the orders of the Duke of Valentinois, Cesare Borgia, and this has brought me even closer to the story told in the beautiful book by Samantha Morris published by Pen & Sword.
November 2, 2020
An absorbing read, concentrating on the Borgia siblings, scions of one of the most powerful families of the Italian
renaissance. You cannot visit Rome or Florence and not be aware of the influence that this notorious family had on political life. Very interesting.
renaissance. You cannot visit Rome or Florence and not be aware of the influence that this notorious family had on political life. Very interesting.
October 27, 2020
This book was most interesting. Not my usual read but I've always been interested in history and I feel that this book has educated me on the borgias. Thank you to the publishers for granting me a copy!
October 22, 2020
Good popular history of the Borgia family; it cuts out the Grand Guignol and I think it makes a good stab of rehabilitating Lucrezia Borgia. Doing the same for Cesare B is a little more difficult, but it does at least give a context for his sometimes reprehensible behaviour.
October 2, 2020
Note: This book was provided at not cost by NetGalley, where this review has been posted.
This book has turned out to be a mixed bag for me. I was eager to learn more about two of the most (in)famous members of the Borgia-family, which was the reason why I requested it. The author does a good job describing the rise of the Borgias (originally known by their Spanish name as the de Borjas) inside the Catholic church with Alfons de Borja, who step by step went from being a professor of law to becoming a diplomat for the Kings of Aragon, then cardinal, and finally being elected Pope Calixtus III in 1455. He nominated his nephew Rodrigo Borgia cardinal, and in 1492 Rodrigo was elected pope himself under the name of Alexander VI. Cesare and Lucrezia were the best-known if his four illegitimate children he had with his lover Vannozza dei Cattanei. It’s on their lives that this book focused on.
As much as the book does provide great quantities of useful information about the main protagonists of the Borgia-family, I was in places overwhelmed by it. I think a steadier, less rushed pace of telling their stories could have improved the flow of the historical narrative. As it were, I had the overall impression that the author herself was overpowered and swept away by the sheer amount of details, so much so that she gushed through the data and evidence, afraid to leave anything out. Some arguments she makes are not explained satisfactorily and end in strange take-it-or-leave-it non-sequiturs. The writing style didn’t help either; someone should have made the effort to thoroughly proofread the manuscript. Proofreading would have avoided factual errors such as writing “off the coast of Belgrade” (the distance between the Adriatic and the Serbian capital is over 400 km) or tautological sentences such as “he was sufficiently recovered enough…”. It would have allowed countless hyphens to be added where they are needed (father-in-law, for instance; I encountered “father in law” as well as “fatherinlaw” and synonyms could have been used instead of the (again) countless repetitions of words, often in the same sentence. Hopefully, proofreading would also have corrected grammar mistakes such as “the narrative of both books concentrate” (when it should have been “concentrates”).
On the positive side, the author has reached her goal, which was to show that the bad name the Borgias still suffer from today is mostly due to propaganda and rumours spread by their enemies, of which they had plenty. She succeeds in showing not two paragons of Evil who indulged in incest and in poisoning their enemies left, right, and centre, but two people who simply tried to live their lives in an age and a “country” where that wasn’t so easy to do, especially for two siblings whose father was a much-hated man of immense power. She handles them with empathy, but not with smitten blindness; their dark sides are explored and explained (yes, most powerful people back then didn’t shy away from committing what we today would call crimes). It’s for this aspect that I didn’t totally dislike the book and would give it a note above average.
This book has turned out to be a mixed bag for me. I was eager to learn more about two of the most (in)famous members of the Borgia-family, which was the reason why I requested it. The author does a good job describing the rise of the Borgias (originally known by their Spanish name as the de Borjas) inside the Catholic church with Alfons de Borja, who step by step went from being a professor of law to becoming a diplomat for the Kings of Aragon, then cardinal, and finally being elected Pope Calixtus III in 1455. He nominated his nephew Rodrigo Borgia cardinal, and in 1492 Rodrigo was elected pope himself under the name of Alexander VI. Cesare and Lucrezia were the best-known if his four illegitimate children he had with his lover Vannozza dei Cattanei. It’s on their lives that this book focused on.
As much as the book does provide great quantities of useful information about the main protagonists of the Borgia-family, I was in places overwhelmed by it. I think a steadier, less rushed pace of telling their stories could have improved the flow of the historical narrative. As it were, I had the overall impression that the author herself was overpowered and swept away by the sheer amount of details, so much so that she gushed through the data and evidence, afraid to leave anything out. Some arguments she makes are not explained satisfactorily and end in strange take-it-or-leave-it non-sequiturs. The writing style didn’t help either; someone should have made the effort to thoroughly proofread the manuscript. Proofreading would have avoided factual errors such as writing “off the coast of Belgrade” (the distance between the Adriatic and the Serbian capital is over 400 km) or tautological sentences such as “he was sufficiently recovered enough…”. It would have allowed countless hyphens to be added where they are needed (father-in-law, for instance; I encountered “father in law” as well as “fatherinlaw” and synonyms could have been used instead of the (again) countless repetitions of words, often in the same sentence. Hopefully, proofreading would also have corrected grammar mistakes such as “the narrative of both books concentrate” (when it should have been “concentrates”).
On the positive side, the author has reached her goal, which was to show that the bad name the Borgias still suffer from today is mostly due to propaganda and rumours spread by their enemies, of which they had plenty. She succeeds in showing not two paragons of Evil who indulged in incest and in poisoning their enemies left, right, and centre, but two people who simply tried to live their lives in an age and a “country” where that wasn’t so easy to do, especially for two siblings whose father was a much-hated man of immense power. She handles them with empathy, but not with smitten blindness; their dark sides are explored and explained (yes, most powerful people back then didn’t shy away from committing what we today would call crimes). It’s for this aspect that I didn’t totally dislike the book and would give it a note above average.
September 14, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. I love the genre and after watching the Showtime series, wanted to learn more about this powerful family. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the first few chapters. It reads like a high school theme paper, with so many grammatical errors I found myself constantly distracted and wondering if the author bit off more than she could chew. I might try to force myself to read a bit more, but all in all, I'm very disappointed in this book and will probably look for something else.
March 5, 2022
It's good but
This is a really good intro kind of book if you want to learn about the Renaissance through the eyes of two of the most infamous Italians in history. But, there's definitely a bias. It's especially glaring because there's also a kind of prudish critical review of Borgias media. It's the next to last chapter and it's best to skip it.
That said, this is a very informative book and definitely worth the read.
This is a really good intro kind of book if you want to learn about the Renaissance through the eyes of two of the most infamous Italians in history. But, there's definitely a bias. It's especially glaring because there's also a kind of prudish critical review of Borgias media. It's the next to last chapter and it's best to skip it.
That said, this is a very informative book and definitely worth the read.
February 25, 2021
I just could not get in to this. I gave it a good chunk of effort, but...
Which is sad, as it has really good ratings from others and is a subject I'm usually interested in.
Oh well, too much reasing to do for my history paper this semester - anything that doesn't fully suck me straight in is abandoned.
Which is sad, as it has really good ratings from others and is a subject I'm usually interested in.
Oh well, too much reasing to do for my history paper this semester - anything that doesn't fully suck me straight in is abandoned.
August 20, 2021
I know very little about the Borgias and found this book to be an excellent introduction. It began with the rise of the Borgia family and then focused on Cesare and Lucrezia and their relationship which has been much maligned over the years. Truly fascinating.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 23, 2022
Cesare and Lucrezia redeemed
In Samantha Morris 's excellent work, the reputation of Cesare and Lucrezia is reviewed and largely redeemed. It's well researched, highly readable and very worthwhile.
In Samantha Morris 's excellent work, the reputation of Cesare and Lucrezia is reviewed and largely redeemed. It's well researched, highly readable and very worthwhile.
March 24, 2023
A nice concise introduction to the Borgias, dispelling many of the myths thrown by their enemies over the years and the fictional accounts of their lives. If you know little about the Borgias this is a great book to start with.
November 1, 2020
I usually spend my 1400's and early 1500's in England and Scotland, usually with Richard III, so I do appreciate Ms. Morris trying to find new information to clear up the more sordid tales about this family, but I was disappointed. Italy during this time was made up of city states, whose governments usually allied themselves with other ruling families or to Spain or France. The governments frequently betrayed each other and Shakespeare had lots of material for Romeo and Juliet with the Orsini and Colonna families and others.. The family of Rodrigo de Borja came from Spain and their family had been in Vatican politics before Cesare and Lucrezia were born. The author is right in saying the brutality of Cesare and his father was not different than other families, but there is no new information presented. This is a very basic introduction and the author has a nice bibliography and the illustrations are relevant. I received a copy of this title from NetGalley for a honest review.
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