eososray's review
4.0
This book has a completely different take on the Borgia family. Instead of agreeing with the accepted facts of this well known family, the author has dug a little deeper and come up with some believable theories. While even he admits that there will never be any way to prove his version or the universally believed version with definitiveness, he lays out his arguments in a very illuminating fashion.
While it has never been a surprise that many of the stories about the Borgia family were circulated by their enemies and had no basis in truth, even the ones we have supposed to be true could possibly also be rumours.
The author proposes that Cesare and Lucrezia were not his own children but his nephew and niece only. He makes convincing arguments against Lucrezia’s immoral and evil reputation and also submits that the Pope himself was not the depraved and sexual deviant that he was been portrayed as.
I found this a convincing story of the Borgia family, while still full of power hungry individuals and suspicious actions, it tries to weed out the impossible and stick to the reasonable at the same time as detailing the history and practices of the era to bring many of the supposed terrible actions of the family into a different light.
While it has never been a surprise that many of the stories about the Borgia family were circulated by their enemies and had no basis in truth, even the ones we have supposed to be true could possibly also be rumours.
The author proposes that Cesare and Lucrezia were not his own children but his nephew and niece only. He makes convincing arguments against Lucrezia’s immoral and evil reputation and also submits that the Pope himself was not the depraved and sexual deviant that he was been portrayed as.
I found this a convincing story of the Borgia family, while still full of power hungry individuals and suspicious actions, it tries to weed out the impossible and stick to the reasonable at the same time as detailing the history and practices of the era to bring many of the supposed terrible actions of the family into a different light.
menniemenace's review against another edition
3.0
The hidden history is... quite boring.
The author says that the salacious stories of the Borgias are fun and scandalous, but mostly not true. I am finding it hard to believe that Cesare, Lucrezia and Juan are loosely related to Rodrigo rather than his children. I also really can't believe that Guilia Farnese was a random pretty lady rather than Rodrigo's mistress.
It makes the story dull, which it can be since it's actual events. But I feel like if we can't know for certain, then why should we assume everything was normal?
The book is very diligent, though it's more about the church rather than the Borgias. They seem to intersect with the story rather than being the story.
I liked it to a certain extent, but it's not my favourite type of nonfiction.
The author says that the salacious stories of the Borgias are fun and scandalous, but mostly not true. I am finding it hard to believe that Cesare, Lucrezia and Juan are loosely related to Rodrigo rather than his children. I also really can't believe that Guilia Farnese was a random pretty lady rather than Rodrigo's mistress.
It makes the story dull, which it can be since it's actual events. But I feel like if we can't know for certain, then why should we assume everything was normal?
The book is very diligent, though it's more about the church rather than the Borgias. They seem to intersect with the story rather than being the story.
I liked it to a certain extent, but it's not my favourite type of nonfiction.
kmb314's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I read this knowing nothing about the Borgias, so there wasn’t any previous knowledge that needed to be challenged or disproven for me. When I read history, I want historical context and to know what the author’s sources are, and this book provides both. I especially appreciated Meyer’s decision to sometimes offer multiple interpretations of events instead of simply accepting the most dramatic version.
atarbett's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't think it was possible to make one of the most fascinating families in history so boring. I'm kind of impressed really and wanted to give it 2 stars just for the author achieving this astounding feat.
But in the end, I didn't care enough even for that. I made it about half way through, but every time I pick it up, my eyes start to glaze over.
But in the end, I didn't care enough even for that. I made it about half way through, but every time I pick it up, my eyes start to glaze over.
toxicbeachgoth's review against another edition
3.0
This work presents an extremely and undeservedly generous interpretation of things like: the papacy, the church, empire and emperors, and the cynical use of women (Lucrezia) and minority groups (Jews in particular) to shore up political power. The author had some good-ish points about how much of what the Borgias did was common at the time, but the aforementioned glaring lack of multiple perspectives on key points did not engender faith in this reader.
mayarelmahdy's review against another edition
3.0
The hidden history is... quite boring.
The author says that the salacious stories of the Borgias are fun and scandalous, but mostly not true. I am finding it hard to believe that Cesare, Lucrezia and Juan are loosely related to Rodrigo rather than his children. I also really can't believe that Guilia Farnese was a random pretty lady rather than Rodrigo's mistress.
It makes the story dull, which it can be since it's actual events. But I feel like if we can't know for certain, then why should we assume everything was normal?
The book is very diligent, though it's more about the church rather than the Borgias. They seem to intersect with the story rather than being the story.
I liked it to a certain extent, but it's not my favourite type of nonfiction.
The author says that the salacious stories of the Borgias are fun and scandalous, but mostly not true. I am finding it hard to believe that Cesare, Lucrezia and Juan are loosely related to Rodrigo rather than his children. I also really can't believe that Guilia Farnese was a random pretty lady rather than Rodrigo's mistress.
It makes the story dull, which it can be since it's actual events. But I feel like if we can't know for certain, then why should we assume everything was normal?
The book is very diligent, though it's more about the church rather than the Borgias. They seem to intersect with the story rather than being the story.
I liked it to a certain extent, but it's not my favourite type of nonfiction.
schmidt05's review against another edition
5.0
Every now and again I read a book that proved to me how little I really know. This is one of those books and I LOVED it!!!!!
Any reading of Popes, especially "bad popes" will bring you the name of Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia and his kin. The Borgia's have an infamous reputation in history including incest, fratricide and poisonings. But do they really deserve this reputation? G.J. Meyer has taken a much forgotten look at the actual historical record and sources for the history of the Borgia's and what he finds may just surprise you!!
Pre and Renaissance Italian politics can be a challenging subject to cover as the shifting city-states, Church, Families and power alliances change and shift constantly. This book is not for the novice of Italian history. Meyer goes into excellent discussion of historical context that is vastly important, but can be confusing and possibly overwhelming for a first brush at this time frame within Italian history.
Outstanding book!!!!!! HIGHLY recommended.
Any reading of Popes, especially "bad popes" will bring you the name of Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia and his kin. The Borgia's have an infamous reputation in history including incest, fratricide and poisonings. But do they really deserve this reputation? G.J. Meyer has taken a much forgotten look at the actual historical record and sources for the history of the Borgia's and what he finds may just surprise you!!
Pre and Renaissance Italian politics can be a challenging subject to cover as the shifting city-states, Church, Families and power alliances change and shift constantly. This book is not for the novice of Italian history. Meyer goes into excellent discussion of historical context that is vastly important, but can be confusing and possibly overwhelming for a first brush at this time frame within Italian history.
Outstanding book!!!!!! HIGHLY recommended.