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hewlettelaine's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a novelty for me. Primarily interested in English history, I came to this book knowing absolutely nothing about Renaissance Italy beyond the fact of the Pope, the notorious name of Borgia and that Catherine de Medici came from there!
My utter lack of familiarity was no barrier to a thorough enjoyment of this book. Frieda is a wonderful writer and keeps the narrative jogging along at a brisk enough pace to keep readers interested whilst taking time to explain events properly. The opening pages filled with family trees are very helpful in understanding the important names of the era and, more importantly, their connections to each other. I must admit to still being thoroughly confused at some points as to what was going on but I think that was more because many names are repeated in different families.
Frieda's history of Renaissance Italy focuses on the lives of a handful of particularly influential and important women of the period. The era is defined by violence, scandal, sex, betrayal and intrigue and is compelling stuff. It also opened my eyes to many new things, e.g. the importance of the Borgias and why Lucrezia Borgia is considered so infamous today. I would highly recommend this book to anyone unfamiliar with the period and I look forward to reading Frieda's Catherine de Medici biography!
My utter lack of familiarity was no barrier to a thorough enjoyment of this book. Frieda is a wonderful writer and keeps the narrative jogging along at a brisk enough pace to keep readers interested whilst taking time to explain events properly. The opening pages filled with family trees are very helpful in understanding the important names of the era and, more importantly, their connections to each other. I must admit to still being thoroughly confused at some points as to what was going on but I think that was more because many names are repeated in different families.
Frieda's history of Renaissance Italy focuses on the lives of a handful of particularly influential and important women of the period. The era is defined by violence, scandal, sex, betrayal and intrigue and is compelling stuff. It also opened my eyes to many new things, e.g. the importance of the Borgias and why Lucrezia Borgia is considered so infamous today. I would highly recommend this book to anyone unfamiliar with the period and I look forward to reading Frieda's Catherine de Medici biography!
aethelgifu's review against another edition
1.0
Oh dear: this should have been such a treat - a group biography of Isabella and Beatrice d'Este, Caterina Sforza, Lucrezia Borgia, Contessina de'Bardi, Clarice Orsini and Lucrezia Tornabuoni - but it was let down by a total lack of copy-editing and sloppy judgemental writing [Joffre Borgia in Naples 'reverting to the superficial ways of a nincompoop']. I've only listed seven names - for the life of me I can't think of the eighth, and none of them were princesses, either :-0
I can't see who this is for - anyone with knowledge of the period will laugh out loud [one of my favourite passages was Frieda's assumption of the posthumous consolation the families of the Pazzi conspirators would take from having their dead relatives painted in disgrace on the walls of the Bargello by Botticelli pg81], and for anyone new to late Quattrocentro Italy the narrative of marriages, alliances, affairs, wars is too complicated to follow easily.
I think this must have been pitched in the middle of 'Borgia'-fever [you think the series is great? the truth is even better!], and has then been rushed out post-cancellation as a kind of 'this is what happened next' resolution to the story lines. Otherwise I cannot see why something so sloppy has been published e.g Caterina Sforza's second husband is introduced and dismissed in the space of a sentence. Also Frieda is unapologetically pro-Alexander Borgia [pg 269] which does suggest some link to the series. If this was a novel she would have got away with it, almost.
Like other readers, I'm not entirely sure what Isabella d'Este ever did to Leonie Frieda to merit the criticism flung in her direction e.g 'Isabella, though grievously struck by her mother's death, typically met it as a fashion challenge' pg 164 and other numerous, frankly bitchy, comments about her weight? What kind of crazy world are we living in when it becomes okay to judge long dead historical figures on their looks??
On the back Kathryn Hughes is quoted, from the 'Mail on Sunday', as saying 'this is a 'Girl's Own' version of the Italian Renaissance, full of bright, brash women, quite a lot of killing...and some really serious statement jewellery'. I have a lot of time for Hughes [she wrote a fabulous biography of George Eliot] and tbh this quote drew me in. Now I'm left wondering if it's been doctored or massaged a touch, and oddly, this review is not on the 'Mail's' website...
So to sum up: for me, entertaining in a so bad it's laughable way, but worse than useless as a source of unbiased reliable information.
I can't see who this is for - anyone with knowledge of the period will laugh out loud [one of my favourite passages was Frieda's assumption of the posthumous consolation the families of the Pazzi conspirators would take from having their dead relatives painted in disgrace on the walls of the Bargello by Botticelli pg81], and for anyone new to late Quattrocentro Italy the narrative of marriages, alliances, affairs, wars is too complicated to follow easily.
I think this must have been pitched in the middle of 'Borgia'-fever [you think the series is great? the truth is even better!], and has then been rushed out post-cancellation as a kind of 'this is what happened next' resolution to the story lines. Otherwise I cannot see why something so sloppy has been published e.g Caterina Sforza's second husband is introduced and dismissed in the space of a sentence. Also Frieda is unapologetically pro-Alexander Borgia [pg 269] which does suggest some link to the series. If this was a novel she would have got away with it, almost.
Like other readers, I'm not entirely sure what Isabella d'Este ever did to Leonie Frieda to merit the criticism flung in her direction e.g 'Isabella, though grievously struck by her mother's death, typically met it as a fashion challenge' pg 164 and other numerous, frankly bitchy, comments about her weight? What kind of crazy world are we living in when it becomes okay to judge long dead historical figures on their looks??
On the back Kathryn Hughes is quoted, from the 'Mail on Sunday', as saying 'this is a 'Girl's Own' version of the Italian Renaissance, full of bright, brash women, quite a lot of killing...and some really serious statement jewellery'. I have a lot of time for Hughes [she wrote a fabulous biography of George Eliot] and tbh this quote drew me in. Now I'm left wondering if it's been doctored or massaged a touch, and oddly, this review is not on the 'Mail's' website...
So to sum up: for me, entertaining in a so bad it's laughable way, but worse than useless as a source of unbiased reliable information.
ms_dzt's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic history of the Renaissance from the perspective of the women who ruled. Starting with Caterina Sforza, Lucrezia Tournabuoni and finishing up with a nod to Catherine de'Medici, Queen of France. Great collection of primary sources for teaching history as well.
Inspired me to read Frieda's history of Catherine De' Medici.
Inspired me to read Frieda's history of Catherine De' Medici.
jessica_flower's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 100 pages
The writing goes off track so much I can't make sense of it. There are a few good lines here and there but she jumps from person to person and from parent's life to their grown kid's life at the drop of a hat.
The writing goes off track so much I can't make sense of it. There are a few good lines here and there but she jumps from person to person and from parent's life to their grown kid's life at the drop of a hat.
shuofthewind's review against another edition
2.0
Rarely parses reality from rumor; excessive orientalism, queerphobic and fatphobic asides throughout; and despite the title it barely focuses any attention on the women themselves or interrogates the historical record in any way. Unfortunate, as the title is what drew me in.
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
4.0
There is nothing I like better than reading about empowered women who fought against the restrictions of their time. So, when I heard about The Deadly Sisterhood more than a year ago, I immediately put it on my wish list. And I was thrilled when I was able to read an advance copy.
The Deadly Sisterhood is mainly about eight women from the Italian Renaissance. And while the focus is on these eight women, we do hear about others.
The main point of this book was to see the lasting legacies the women of this time left: whether it was from their own extreme or lesser actions, or through their descendants.
The boldness of these women showed. When the last of the eight women featured here died - Isabella d'Este - with her died an end of an era. An era where women where able to take control, and even manipulate to gain power and status. After the death of Isabella, the world in which she lived changed, and became a place she and her contemporary women would have felt stifled in.
One of the women featured in this book is Caterina Sforza. I had read a fantastic biography about her last year, but was still thrilled that she was included here. I actually learned a bit more about her, not surprisingly considering the depths of this woman’s amazingness could not all be included in one book.
The Deadly Sisterhood is highly recommended to those interested in the Italian Renaissance and women's history. How appropriate that I finish it during Women's History Month.
The Deadly Sisterhood is mainly about eight women from the Italian Renaissance. And while the focus is on these eight women, we do hear about others.
The main point of this book was to see the lasting legacies the women of this time left: whether it was from their own extreme or lesser actions, or through their descendants.
The boldness of these women showed. When the last of the eight women featured here died - Isabella d'Este - with her died an end of an era. An era where women where able to take control, and even manipulate to gain power and status. After the death of Isabella, the world in which she lived changed, and became a place she and her contemporary women would have felt stifled in.
One of the women featured in this book is Caterina Sforza. I had read a fantastic biography about her last year, but was still thrilled that she was included here. I actually learned a bit more about her, not surprisingly considering the depths of this woman’s amazingness could not all be included in one book.
The Deadly Sisterhood is highly recommended to those interested in the Italian Renaissance and women's history. How appropriate that I finish it during Women's History Month.
firerosearien's review against another edition
3.0
Jumped around way too much. Each woman is fascinating in her own right and you can't really adequately describe everything in 400 pages. It's popular history for an audience unlikely to be familiar enough with the era to be able to easily differentiate between all the players.
bepisaun's review against another edition
5.0
An awesome epic look into the lives of the women who lived in the Italian Renaissance. In depth and full of murder, deceit and fashion of course.