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11th out of 38 books
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57 voters
Cesare Borgia: His Life and Times
Accusations of treachery, rape, incest, and murder: almost five centuries have passed since Cesare Borgia's death, and his reputation still casts a sinister shadow. Yet the real man was a mesmerizing figure who inspired Machiavelli's classic The Prince. During the brief space of time when he occupied the stage, he shocked and stunned his contemporaries with his lofty ambit...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
December 31st 2001
by Phoenix Press (CA)
(first published 1976)
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I am really interested in history, particularly renaissance history and have read a fair few biographies of this era, but this one I found totally engrossing. It is written beautifully, but even more importantly, it deals with Cesare Borgia in a very even handed manner. So much that is written about the Borgias and Cesare in particular is based on rumour and reputation rather than evidence. He is either portrayed as the devil incarnate (e.g. in Dumas) or as impossibly romatic figure that really...more
The companion work to her superb “Lucrezia Borgia”, Bradford’s exploration of the life of Lucrezia’s highly controversial brother offers an insightful look into the world of late 15th century/early 16th century Rome and Europe in general. Born the illegitimate son of Rodrigo Borgia, who rose to become Pope Alexander VI, Cesare was originally intended by his father for a career in the Church. Within the confines of filial loyalty, he resisted but was made a cardinal at the age of eighteen. Severa...more
I am probably the most biased person to ever review any book concerning the Borgias. I think that they were a magnificent, fascinating, and amoral family; a family capable of intense love and intense brutality. They might be my favorite historical family of all time--and believe me, I take a great interest in many, many dynasties. The two most famous Borgias, Cesare and Lucrezia, are particularly captivating, for me and the rest of the world. I can't seem to shake this fixation on two such mercu...more
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* Disclaimer: this is a review for a book called "De Borgia's" in Dutch, that apparently had a much better fitting title in its original English.
Don't let the title of this book fool you. It may sound like it's a book about the Borgias, but it's a book about Cesare Borgia and how he brought down his family and himself. Surely, Rodrigo, Lucrezia, Juan and Jofre are mentioned, but don't play really big parts in the book. As for how Lucrezia's and Jofre's lives ended, I have no idea. This is not ne...more
Don't let the title of this book fool you. It may sound like it's a book about the Borgias, but it's a book about Cesare Borgia and how he brought down his family and himself. Surely, Rodrigo, Lucrezia, Juan and Jofre are mentioned, but don't play really big parts in the book. As for how Lucrezia's and Jofre's lives ended, I have no idea. This is not ne...more
Fantastic research, but definitely for those who are familiar and fascinated by the political turmoils of Italian states. Bradford glides through Cesare's fascinating life with emphasis on the family's political ambitions, though occasionally we do get a glimpse of the people themselves (ie Cesare as a competitive teenager, writing threatening letters to ensure his horse won the race). Nice read.
I can't believe it's possible for a book about Cesare Borgia to be dull but this one is. I love historical bios, and have a good collection myself but this one is just not very well written. Spends too much time on Cesare's various political alliances and acts and almost nothing of the man himself. Cannot recommend.
Excellent research, easy to read and full of information. Couldn't fault it.
Not quite as good as Bradford's biography of Lucrezia, but still recommended.
READ THIS BOOK! I recently re-read this amazing book. I confess to having been unimpressed by it years ago, but the more I read about Cesare Borgia, the more interesting I find him to be. Yes, he was ruthless, but also a brilliant tactician. Having recently finished Paul Strathern's "The Artist, the Philosopher and the Warrior" I was put into a more open frame of mind as I approached the book this time. I suspect that being older and better read in history gives me a greater appreciation for thi...more
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Educated at St. Mary’s Convent, Shaftesbury Dorset, where she won a State Scholarship and at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she won a College Scholarship in History, Sarah Bradford is an historian and biographer who has travelled extensively, living in the West Indies, Portugal and Italy. She speaks four languages which have been invaluable in her research for her various books, particularly Th...more
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