Mar 12, 2020 borgia family, spanish borja, descendants of a noble line, originally from valencia, spain, that established roots in italy and became prominent in ecclesiastical and political affairs in the 1400s and 1500s. Sweeping aside the gossip, slander and distortion that have shrouded the borgias for centuries, g. Sarah dunant attempts a literary equivalent by boldly basing a novel. This is a really nice history of the borgias, combining lots of crunchy background details with intriguing ideas about the key players. Another achievement for dunant is her ability to reimagine history. Both these families played an important role in the history of italy and other european countries.
The novel is about pope alexander vi rodrigo borgia and his family. Pope calixtus iii, his nephew pope alexander iv, his son cesare, and his daughter lucrezia. The borgias are the most infamous family of renaissance italy, and their history normally hinges around four key individuals. Jun 20, 20 in the 1500s, italy was bursting with some of the most influential and vivid figures in history.
A novel of the borgias 1979 by cecelia holland, plays, operas. The startling truth behind one of the most notorious dynasties in history is revealed in a remarkable new account by the acclaimed author of the tudors and a world undone. How historically accurate is showtimes the borgias. Family affairs the most scandalous popes in history books and. Lucrezia borgia was born on 18 april 1480 at subiaco, near rome. As others have pointed out, this is mainly a defense of the borgias. Best books about the borgia family 68 books goodreads. Puzo spent over twenty years working on the book off and on, while he wrote others. Forget everything you think you know about the most infamous family of the italian renaissancehere in every colorful detail is the real story of the borgias and their indelible, tumultuous world, written by the gifted author of the acclaimed a world undone and the tudors and timed to coincide with the upcoming new season of the celebrated showtime series, the borgias. Niccolo machiavelli was a diplomat, politician and writer in renaissance italy whose most infamous quotes come from his books the prince and the art of war.
They made enemies with many powerful noble families, and have been accused of nearly every depravity. House of borgia the most infamous family of renaissance. The mention of the borgia family often conjures up images of a ruthless drive for power via. The borgia family is one of the most notorious in european history. Mar 07, 2017 the borgias were a noble family from the years of the renaissance. The hidden history is a gripping history of a tempestuous time and an infamous family. In the name of the family, by sarah dunant sarah dunants latest novel follows one of historys most notorious families the borgias. The borgia family stands out in history as being infamously steeped in sin and immorality, yet there is evidence to. Previously history has tended to condemn, or attempt in part to exonerate, this remarkable family. The borgia family originated in spain, where the family name was spelled borja. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably, and perhaps unfairly, linked to the crimes and debauchery. Jeremy irons and holliday grainger in the tv drama the borgias.
The renaissance was an intriguing period in europe, and the history of the borgia family was equally colorful, and lively. Thanks to the actions of the middle pair, the family name is associated with greed, power, lust, and murder. In 1456, calixtus made his nephew rodrigo, then only 25 years old, a cardinal and vicechancellor of the church. Although hailing originally from spain, they rose to great power in italy and more than one borgia became a catholic pope. The borgias special nook edition the life of lucrezia borgia bestselling biography of the original crime family.
On the other hand i had the pleasure of stumbling upon the life of cesare borgia written by rafael sabatini, a very good historical novelist. The borgia family book summaries, test preparation. So imagine the history of the borgias as witnessed by machiavelli. However, despite entrenching themselves in religion, they were known for caring little about morality. The borgias and their enemies book by christopher hibbert. The borgias were a noble family from the years of the renaissance.
On the other hand, i wasnt looking lurid scandalmongering, and as a history of a certain period in renaissance italy, this book cant be much faulted. The borgias by sarah dunant, the family by mario puzo, madonna of the. I presonally liked the family by mario puzo, a 2001 novel. Born into romes notorious borgia family, young lucrezia led a life colored by violence and. Sign me up to get more news about historical fiction books. The house of borgia was a spanisharagonese noble family, which rose to prominence during. Jeremy irons on pope alexander vi, the borgais youtube. Sep 10, 2019 the borgias are the most infamous family of renaissance italy, and their history normally hinges around four key individuals. The borja spelled in italian as borgia was a noble house with origin in the town of borja zaragoza in the then crown of aragon. Feb 15, 2017 in the name of the family as blood and beauty did before holds up a mirror to a turbulent moment of history, sweeping aside the myths to bring alive the real borgia family. Sarah dunant introduces in the name of the family, her new. In the name of the family, by sarah dunant, makes the borgias live again. Nov 14, 2019 the other family was the house of borgia and their members also rose to power and fame. Rumor and representation explores the historical and cultural structures that underpin the early modern borgia family, their notoriety, and persistence and reinvention in the popular imagination.
They tend to mix up timelines and mesh stories to fit in with making a successful and entertaining tv show. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably. Cesare, juan, lucrezia, and jofre, and they were accused of everything from buying the papal election to incest, with lots more in between. Join the random house readers circle for author chats and more. The borgias, novelist sarah dunant explores the story of the. Borgia family, spanish borja, descendants of a noble line, originally from valencia, spain, that established roots in italy and became prominent in ecclesiastical and political affairs in the 1400s and 1500s. The house of the borgias produced two popes and many other political and church leaders. The book balances studies focusing on early modern observations of the bo. Ellen lloyd murder, greed, lust for power, political intrigue, scandals, incest, and corruption are the reasons why the house of borgia easily became the most infamous family of renaissance italy. May 24, 2011 i presonally liked the family by mario puzo, a 2001 novel. The borgias excerpt lucrezia borgia is the most unfortunate woman in modern history. The rise and fall of the most infamous family in history 9780897332385.
He makes a convincing case that the borgias have been. Journalist and historian mario dal bello drew on documents from the vatican secret archive to write his new book, i borgia. Buy a cheap copy of the borgias and their enemies book by christopher hibbert. Top 10 alleged dark facts about the mysterious borgia family. Cesare borgia, the illegitimate son of a pontiff, was the hero of the prince. Mar 09, 20 forget everything you think you know about the most infamous family of the italian renaissancehere in every colorful detail is the real story of the borgias and their indelible, tumultuous world, written by the gifted author of the acclaimed a world undone and the tudors and timed to coincide with the upcoming new season of the celebrated showtime series, the borgias. Forget everything you think you know about the most infamous family of. Frederick rolfe borgia family, spanish borja, descendants of a noble line, originally from valencia, spain, that established roots in italy and became prominent in ecclesiastical and political affairs in the 1400s. The first major biography of the borgias in thirty years, christopher hibberts latest history brings the family and the world they lived inthe glittering rome of. A passionate love story runs through the novel, but it is a sinful one. The borgias of history renaissance studies youtube. A world undone, meyer brings his considerable skills to another infamous renaissance family, the borgias.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The fact that the borgias hailed from valencia, and that alexander vi had helped to involve the spanish more closely in italian affairs meant that the family was almost inevitably tarred with the same brush. Shelf awareness meyer brings his considerable skills to another infamous renaissance family, the borgias and a fresh look into the machinations of power in renaissance italy. The borgia was an italianspanish aristocratic family that originated from aragon, spain. The borgias nookbook lucrezia borgia the definitive history and biography of the original crime family. Pope alexander vi formerly rodrigo borgia believes god will ultimately. This enthralling book charts the family s huge influence on the political, economic, and cultural history of florence. Apr 23, 2012 actor jeremy irons speaks to the cbs this morning cohosts about his role as pope alexander vi in the showtime series, the borgais, his marriage of 34 years, and the advice he has for his son.
Although the borgias are often called the most notorious family in italian. The rise and fall of the most infamous family in history. The borgias must be related to their time, together with the world which enabled them to flourish. To his credit, meyer the tudors is forthright about how this supposed hidden history of the italian renaissances most controversial family came to be. Fans of the showtime tv series the borgias will find this book fascinating, as will any student of. There were numerous unsubstantiated claims that the family was of jewish origin. These underground rumours were propagated by, among others, giuliano della rovere, and the family was frequently described as marranos by political opponents. Lucrezia borgia was an italian noblewoman and daughter of pope alexander vi. He may of course be absolutely right but at least a couple of times the author had no problem of accepting similar rumours and hearsay about non borgias. The borgia family gained great amounts of land in the papal states, which were now concentrated in the hands of one family more than ever before, and lucrezia was packed off. Yet in order to understand the borgias, much more is needed than evidence for and against.
141 1074 588 956 1210 201 926 39 406 1297 1478 125 1035 825 242 1054 823 117 657 831 219 801 435 941 632 394 364 1418 366