Annette Ranald's Blog: Annette's History Reads - Posts Tagged "alexander-vi"

Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance ItalyLucrezia Borgia: A NovelLucrezia Borgia (1480-1519), is one of those characters that I'm attracted to because she is most likely innocent of the crimes imputed to her. She's portrayed in fiction, art, and even some histories as the ultimate mob wife and daughter, who puts her brother Cesare up to killing their brother Juan and her second husband, Alfonso of Aragon. After being married and tamed by Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferarra, she learns the error of her ways and leads an almost nun-like life of wifely piety. The truth is way off the mark. Lucrezia was a pawn in her family's schemes, who los two men that she loved before finding refuge with a man powerful enough to keep her infamous relatives at bay. Besides, nobody had to put Cesare Borgia up to killing anyone. He managed that on his own.

Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, Lucrezia has been the subject of several biographies and novels that dispel the myths. No incest with her father, poisoned rings, or black widow plotting by her anywhere around. Sarah Bradford's book does a good job of bringing the real Letizia to life, even if narration is rather dense and difficult to read. She also sets Lucrezia in the context of her time. The Borgias weren't the only Italian or European family capable of murdering their own and others to get where they needed to be in life and power. These early years of the European Renaissance were rough on anybody. Lucrezia, we learn, was a seasoned survivor, with a heart and a conscience. She was loyal to her family, but she loved all three of the men she married, and the children she bore. She found escape from her brother's crazy world when she could.

Lucrezia Borgia: A Novel, by John Faunce, also does a good job of humanizing and soften Lucrezia. He, too, dispenses with the incestuous harpy and her poisoned ring, and instead portrays Lucrezia as the victim of her father and brother, which she likely was. This is the type of books some critics would carp at because of the modern sound of its dialogue and narration. It's written in first-person, as told by Lucrezia, and much of the narration and interchange between the characters has a modern feel to it. However, this is one of those books that can break the rules and still be an enjoyable, believable read. Thoughts and feelings can sometimes be universal. The horror of realizing that your brother killed the husband you love, the father of your child, can be recognized by anyone. As can the desire to escape, leave that behind, and lead a better life.