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The Family
What is a family? Mario Puzo first answered that question, unforgettably, in his landmark bestseller The Godfather; with the creation of the Corleones he forever redefined the concept of blood loyalty. Now, thirty years later, Puzo enriches us all with his ultimate vision of the subject, in a masterpiece that crowns his remarkable career: the story of the greatest crime family in Italian history -- the Borgias.
In The Family, this singular novelist transports his readers back to fifteenth-century Rome and reveals the extravagance and intrigue of the Vatican as surely as he once revealed the secrets of the Mafia. At the story's center is Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI, a man whose lustful appetites for power, luxury, and women were matched only by his consuming love of family. Surrounding him are his extraordinary children: the simple, unloved Jofre; the irascible, heartless Juan; the beautiful, strong-willed Lucrezia; and the passionate warrior Cesare, Machiavelli's friend and inspiration. Their intermingled stories constitute a symphony of human emotion and behavior, from pride to romance to jealousy to betrayal and murderous rage. And their time, place, and characters are recaptured in all their earthy, human grandeur, with the unerring insight and compassion that were Mario Puzo's great gifts.
A labor of love two decades in the making, The Family marks the final triumph of one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
373 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2001
About the author
Mario Puzo
146 books5,010 followersPuzo was born in a poor family of Neapolitan immigrants living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York. Many of his books draw heavily on this heritage. After graduating from the City College of New York, he joined the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Due to his poor eyesight, the military did not let him undertake combat duties but made him a public relations officer stationed in Germany. In 1950, his first short story, The Last Christmas, was published in American Vanguard. After the war, he wrote his first book, The Dark Arena, which was published in 1955.
At periods in the 1950s and early 1960s, Puzo worked as a writer/editor for publisher Martin Goodman's Magazine Management Company. Puzo, along with other writers like Bruce Jay Friedman, worked for the company line of men's magazines, pulp titles like Male, True Action, and Swank. Under the pseudonym Mario Cleri, Puzo wrote World War II adventure features for True Action.
Puzo's most famous work, The Godfather, was first published in 1969 after he had heard anecdotes about Mafia organizations during his time in pulp journalism. He later said in an interview with Larry King that his principal motivation was to make money. He had already, after all, written two books that had received great reviews, yet had not amounted to much. As a government clerk with five children, he was looking to write something that would appeal to the masses. With a number one bestseller for months on the New York Times Best Seller List, Mario Puzo had found his target audience. The book was later developed into the film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning three, including an Oscar for Puzo for Best Adapted Screenplay. Coppola and Puzo collaborated then to work on sequels to the original film, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III.
Puzo wrote the first draft of the script for the 1974 disaster film Earthquake, which he was unable to continue working on due to his commitment to The Godfather Part II. Puzo also co-wrote Richard Donner's Superman and the original draft for Superman II. He also collaborated on the stories for the 1982 film A Time to Die and the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola film The Cotton Club.
Puzo never saw the publication of his penultimate book, Omertà, but the manuscript was finished before his death, as was the manuscript for The Family. However, in a review originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jules Siegel, who had worked closely with Puzo at Magazine Management Company, speculated that Omertà may have been completed by "some talentless hack." Siegel also acknowledges the temptation to "rationalize avoiding what is probably the correct analysis -- that [Puzo] wrote it and it is terrible."
Puzo died of heart failure on July 2, 1999 at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York. His family now lives in East Islip, New York.
At periods in the 1950s and early 1960s, Puzo worked as a writer/editor for publisher Martin Goodman's Magazine Management Company. Puzo, along with other writers like Bruce Jay Friedman, worked for the company line of men's magazines, pulp titles like Male, True Action, and Swank. Under the pseudonym Mario Cleri, Puzo wrote World War II adventure features for True Action.
Puzo's most famous work, The Godfather, was first published in 1969 after he had heard anecdotes about Mafia organizations during his time in pulp journalism. He later said in an interview with Larry King that his principal motivation was to make money. He had already, after all, written two books that had received great reviews, yet had not amounted to much. As a government clerk with five children, he was looking to write something that would appeal to the masses. With a number one bestseller for months on the New York Times Best Seller List, Mario Puzo had found his target audience. The book was later developed into the film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning three, including an Oscar for Puzo for Best Adapted Screenplay. Coppola and Puzo collaborated then to work on sequels to the original film, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III.
Puzo wrote the first draft of the script for the 1974 disaster film Earthquake, which he was unable to continue working on due to his commitment to The Godfather Part II. Puzo also co-wrote Richard Donner's Superman and the original draft for Superman II. He also collaborated on the stories for the 1982 film A Time to Die and the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola film The Cotton Club.
Puzo never saw the publication of his penultimate book, Omertà, but the manuscript was finished before his death, as was the manuscript for The Family. However, in a review originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jules Siegel, who had worked closely with Puzo at Magazine Management Company, speculated that Omertà may have been completed by "some talentless hack." Siegel also acknowledges the temptation to "rationalize avoiding what is probably the correct analysis -- that [Puzo] wrote it and it is terrible."
Puzo died of heart failure on July 2, 1999 at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York. His family now lives in East Islip, New York.
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April 24, 2024
La historia siempre recuerda nombres, y el de esta familia pasó a convertirse en leyenda. Tal era su ambición y pasiones como fuertes eran sus lazos como familia.
Magníficamente escrito, personajes fieles a la historia o lo que se cree conocer y saber. Desde luego humanos en lo mejor y lo peor de lo peor.
El autor Mario Puzzo hace un excelente trabajo transportandonos al Renacimiento, al mundo de Alejandro VI el infame Papa Borgia, y de sus hijos César, Juan, Lucrecia y Jofre.
Ésta es la historia de una leyendaria familia cuya ambición y sed de poder la llevarían a la cima del mundo, y la crónica del alto precio que pagaron por ello.
"Los Borgia"
Roma, siglo XV.
Rodrigo Borgia, que llegó a ser Papa con el nombre de Alejandro VI, tiene dos grandes pasiones: el poder, en todas sus formas, y la familia.
Sus cuatro hijos son muy diferentes entre sí, al igual que sus madres: el sencillo y aún pequeño Jofre; el irascible y despiadado Juan; la bella y decidida Lucrecia, y César, el líder estratega y ambicioso como su padre, amigo de Maquiavelo como su inspirador para la figura del Príncipe.
Sus dramáticos acontecimientos se entrelazan con los de la Europa del Renacimiento. Una era de belleza, mucha lujuria, poder, de ambiciones orgullo, traición, intriga y venenos mortales en un cuadro realista y muy humano de la que fue la primera familia del crimen real de nuestra historia.
Su estilo de escritura es práctico y muy lúcido de principio a fin. Ágil, ligero pero cubre todo lo que se puede esperar.
Bastante ágil para lo que a su vez también tiene de complejo recorriendo el paso de los años.
Comienza con la coronación de Rodrigo Borgia como Papa Alejandro en 1492.
El reinado del Papa Alejandro como Papa tuvo poco que ver con la religión y mucho que ver con acumular poder para él y su familia y las luchas internas y externas por mantenerlo.
Alejandro tuvo hijos y amantes y un gusto por todos los bienes mundanos. Nombra cardenal a su hijo mayor, César, con la idea de que asuma el cargo de Papa. Casa a sus demás hijos con familias influyentes para consolidar su base de poder. Su hijo Juan está destinado a liderar los ejércitos papales y apoderarse de las tierras.
Su hija, Lucrezia, tiene un romance incestuoso con su hermano César. Las cosas finalmente comienzan a desmoronarse a medida que el Papa crea enemigos, incluso dentro de su propia familia.
Tiene un estilo narrativo sencillo que hace que la lectura sea amena.
Desde un punto de vista de alguien que busca ahondar, hizo algún resúmen y podría haber profundizado un poco mejor en ciertas cosas.
Los personajes son fuertes y desde luego son y serán memorables. Ninguno deja indiferente y son protagonistas en los que no hay uno que destaque más que el resto. Maravilloso.
Todos tienen muchos defectos pero sigues sus vidas con avidez. César, en particular, era un personaje que despierta muchas cosas.
Disfruté de conversaciones con Maquiavelo, Miguel Ángel y Leonardo Da Vinci. La política, la violencia, el hambre de poder y control, con todo tipo de depravaciones. Es exactamente lo que estaba ocurriendo en la Iglesia y aquellos que la controlaban en los siglos XIV y XV.
Esta novela fue la última obra ficticia del autor y murió antes de que se terminara el manuscrito. El libro fue lanzado póstumamente.
Terminado por Carol Gino, compañera del autor. Se agradece que esta joya haya visto la luz. He visto y leído todo de esta familia.
Siempre me ha fascinado..
Rodrigo Borgia un personajes que a menudo trata de racionalizar sus ambiciones, codicia y lujuria pretendiendo que no son contradictorias con su fe religiosa. Las luchas consigo mismo.
César Borgia, es vengativo, ambicioso a niveles extremos y muy, muy, listo. Es estratega y no se detendrá ante nada ..ni nadie.. por cumplir sus ambiciones que no están en ser cardenal. El camino que su padre seleccionó.
Es un guerrero innato.
Aquí su obsesión sexual con Lucrezia se muestra como su único rasgo bueno y redentor que no es un rasgo redentor en absoluto.
Son todos humanos y carecen de filtro o líneas marcadas que separen las cosas de lo que está bien o mal.
Lucrezia es quizás la menos trastornada de los Borgia..
Este libro te hace querer saber todo sobre los Borgia. Está muy bien narrado y la historia se vuelve tan intrigante que es imposible dejar de leer. No paras hasta terminar..🍷
Está basada en "hechos reales" con un entorno ficticio, y revela la corrupción en el Vaticano.
Puede ser una historia de traición, de violencia, corrupción y crimen. Pero también de amor de todas las formas retorcidas.. pero amor para ellos.. Familia y poder. Los Borgia..✍️🐃⚔️🎩
Magníficamente escrito, personajes fieles a la historia o lo que se cree conocer y saber. Desde luego humanos en lo mejor y lo peor de lo peor.
El autor Mario Puzzo hace un excelente trabajo transportandonos al Renacimiento, al mundo de Alejandro VI el infame Papa Borgia, y de sus hijos César, Juan, Lucrecia y Jofre.
Ésta es la historia de una leyendaria familia cuya ambición y sed de poder la llevarían a la cima del mundo, y la crónica del alto precio que pagaron por ello.
"Los Borgia"
Roma, siglo XV.
Rodrigo Borgia, que llegó a ser Papa con el nombre de Alejandro VI, tiene dos grandes pasiones: el poder, en todas sus formas, y la familia.
Sus cuatro hijos son muy diferentes entre sí, al igual que sus madres: el sencillo y aún pequeño Jofre; el irascible y despiadado Juan; la bella y decidida Lucrecia, y César, el líder estratega y ambicioso como su padre, amigo de Maquiavelo como su inspirador para la figura del Príncipe.
Sus dramáticos acontecimientos se entrelazan con los de la Europa del Renacimiento. Una era de belleza, mucha lujuria, poder, de ambiciones orgullo, traición, intriga y venenos mortales en un cuadro realista y muy humano de la que fue la primera familia del crimen real de nuestra historia.
Su estilo de escritura es práctico y muy lúcido de principio a fin. Ágil, ligero pero cubre todo lo que se puede esperar.
Bastante ágil para lo que a su vez también tiene de complejo recorriendo el paso de los años.
Comienza con la coronación de Rodrigo Borgia como Papa Alejandro en 1492.
El reinado del Papa Alejandro como Papa tuvo poco que ver con la religión y mucho que ver con acumular poder para él y su familia y las luchas internas y externas por mantenerlo.
Alejandro tuvo hijos y amantes y un gusto por todos los bienes mundanos. Nombra cardenal a su hijo mayor, César, con la idea de que asuma el cargo de Papa. Casa a sus demás hijos con familias influyentes para consolidar su base de poder. Su hijo Juan está destinado a liderar los ejércitos papales y apoderarse de las tierras.
Su hija, Lucrezia, tiene un romance incestuoso con su hermano César. Las cosas finalmente comienzan a desmoronarse a medida que el Papa crea enemigos, incluso dentro de su propia familia.
Tiene un estilo narrativo sencillo que hace que la lectura sea amena.
Desde un punto de vista de alguien que busca ahondar, hizo algún resúmen y podría haber profundizado un poco mejor en ciertas cosas.
Los personajes son fuertes y desde luego son y serán memorables. Ninguno deja indiferente y son protagonistas en los que no hay uno que destaque más que el resto. Maravilloso.
Todos tienen muchos defectos pero sigues sus vidas con avidez. César, en particular, era un personaje que despierta muchas cosas.
Disfruté de conversaciones con Maquiavelo, Miguel Ángel y Leonardo Da Vinci. La política, la violencia, el hambre de poder y control, con todo tipo de depravaciones. Es exactamente lo que estaba ocurriendo en la Iglesia y aquellos que la controlaban en los siglos XIV y XV.
Esta novela fue la última obra ficticia del autor y murió antes de que se terminara el manuscrito. El libro fue lanzado póstumamente.
Terminado por Carol Gino, compañera del autor. Se agradece que esta joya haya visto la luz. He visto y leído todo de esta familia.
Siempre me ha fascinado..
Rodrigo Borgia un personajes que a menudo trata de racionalizar sus ambiciones, codicia y lujuria pretendiendo que no son contradictorias con su fe religiosa. Las luchas consigo mismo.
César Borgia, es vengativo, ambicioso a niveles extremos y muy, muy, listo. Es estratega y no se detendrá ante nada ..ni nadie.. por cumplir sus ambiciones que no están en ser cardenal. El camino que su padre seleccionó.
Es un guerrero innato.
Aquí su obsesión sexual con Lucrezia se muestra como su único rasgo bueno y redentor que no es un rasgo redentor en absoluto.
Son todos humanos y carecen de filtro o líneas marcadas que separen las cosas de lo que está bien o mal.
Lucrezia es quizás la menos trastornada de los Borgia..
Este libro te hace querer saber todo sobre los Borgia. Está muy bien narrado y la historia se vuelve tan intrigante que es imposible dejar de leer. No paras hasta terminar..🍷
Está basada en "hechos reales" con un entorno ficticio, y revela la corrupción en el Vaticano.
Puede ser una historia de traición, de violencia, corrupción y crimen. Pero también de amor de todas las formas retorcidas.. pero amor para ellos.. Familia y poder. Los Borgia..✍️🐃⚔️🎩
March 9, 2025
The Family is not one of Mario Puzo more well known novels. However, wow, I really enjoyed reading it. Even though the main themes of this book is not mafia related, it is still very fascinating & entertaining to read. The main characters are members of the historically famous Borgia family. Pope Alexander VI, his son Cesare & his daughter Lucrezia are involved in most of the main plots of the novel. The high drama, intrigue, suspenseful style of writing is vintage Mario Puzo… I really enjoyed reading this page turner.
May 10, 2019
A few years ago I read Sarah Dunant’s Blood & Beauty, which I found to be an engaging read with atmospheric settings. So, going into The Family, I was already familiar with the Borgia family and other historical characters and the Italian Renaissance background.
This novel was the author’s last piece of fictional work and he died before the manuscript was finished. The book was released posthumously. The manuscript was completed by Carol Gino, the author’s companion.
The style of writing is down to earth and lucid from start to finish. I could not tell at which point the change of authorship takes place.
In some parts it seems the author is so zealous in trying to present the fatherly side of Rodrigo Borgia that it comes across as forced, especially when his cruel and calculating plans using his children as pawns speak much louder. It seems to me that this character often tries to rationalize his ambitions, greed and lust by pretending that these are not contradictory to his religious faith. But understandably, under the immense political pressures that come from sovereign states and papal states alike, above all, from his archrival Cardinal della Rovere who constantly breathes down his neck, he has his reasons to scheme and plot.
Cesare Borgia is portrayed to be vengeful, ultra ambitious and wicked, but then his sexual obsession with his sister Lucrezia is made out to be his only redeeming trait, which is no redeeming trait at all.
Lucrezia is perhaps the least deranged of the Borgias. Her character is also the most credible.
All in all, it was a good read. I’m giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up.
April 13, 2023
But della Rovere frowned and said, "Heed my warning, Guido Feltra. He's full of the devil, this son of the church." (page. 34)
By the way, when I read this book, I kept missing the Cantarella manga series by You Higuri, which takes a fantasy approach when dealing with the Borgia Family and its many schemes. Plus the Cesare Borgia and Don Michelotto in the manga are total hot guys, Lucrezia Borgia is such a darling in this narration. XD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantare...
If you are interested in reading about the court intrigues, assassination and warfare in the Italian Renaissance period, The Family, the last novel by Mario Puzo (finished by his long time girlfriend after his death) would be much to your taste.
The Borgia Family has long been duded as 'the original crime family' and who else is more suitable to write about them than the master author of Mafia, Mr. Puzo himself? For most of the time I'm satisfied with what Mr. Puzo had to offer: the power plays within The Holy Mother Church, a badass Pope who dealt out death, assassination and other nasty treatments to his foes (and he had many!), the good old Pope's active and colorful sex life with his handful of mistresses (and these women were pretty capable and charming themselves), the rivalry among the Pope's four children, the warfare among the Italian states (lot of battles, alliances and vendetta!) and last but certainly not least, the infamous incest! (and those siblings are full-blooded siblings in the story, mind you.)
Alright, I was shell shocked by Mr. Puzo's plot twist about .
There are a good plenty of shocking events in this novel and I like how Mr. Puzo laid out for us the complicated family saga through a long period of time (roughly 30+ years) so effectively and always filled his story with a faint sense of irony and humor. I also like how these members of the infamous Borgia Family act and think like people with their own wits, sense of loyalty, definition of justice and flaws instead of being demonized into a bunch of 'they are evil!' cardboard cutouts.
Among the crew, Pope Alexander VI and his second son Cesare Borgia were the central characters and I have to admit our good old Pope was the most charming one here (he is so freaking badass that he is at the same level with Don Corleone!) In Mr. Puzo's opinion, Cesare was 'a patriot who decided to become a hero' and he did have his many impressive victories during his life time to show for his talents although I don't think his character manage to standout as much as his father.
As to Lucrezia Borgia, the young woman who suffered the most from her family's bad reputation and scandals, I do like how her personality is formed and how she learnt her life-lessons through the story's progress.
This novel certainly motivates me to learn more about the history of the intriguing Borgia Family, will look more into it later.
My review for Borgia (comic):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review for Blood and Beauty: The Borgias
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 15, 2020
Buen libro. Relato fascinante del apogeo de la familia Borja o Borgia en Italia en pleno Renacimiento. El patriarca Alejandro VI, corrupto, vividor, mujeriego (o es leyenda negra al tratarse de un papa no italiano??) Y sus hijos legalmente conocidos y reconocidos por todos: Juan, el ambicioso César, la depravada o no tanto Lucrecia......estamos ante una familia especialmente mafiosa y nepotista o nada nuevo bajo el sol, salvo que no se trata de una de las familias que habitualmente habían monopolizado el papado en Roma durante siglos, lo que ha generado esa fama de paradigma de corrupción y crueldad alrededor de esta Familia a través de los siglos??.hay que leerlo....
October 12, 2025
Znakomicie napisana historia rodziny, której nazwisko kojarzy się z intrygami i bezwzględną walką o władzę. Sporo w niej hipokryzji, brutalności, pragnienia zemsty, a między nimi.... zachwyt nad przyrodą, jedzeniem i sztuką. Nic dziwnego, że to autor "Ojca chrzestnego" napisał tę książkę - wszak jest ona opisem tworzenia sie włoskej mafii. Książka pochłania czytelnika i dostracza mu wiele przyjemności z tej pasjonującej lektury.
March 31, 2012
This book was on its way to being a 4 or even 5 star book for me when I first began and while I still enjoyed The Family overall, by the end, I could not shake a distinct sense of dissatisfaction.
In the beginning, the book fulfilled all it promised the reader it would be. It was lush with grandeur and decadence. The characters were intricate and detailed, with the specific sort of nuances only Mario Puzo could provide, the nuances that made a reader invest in a character, love them, in spite of all their garish sins, something quite necessary when relating a tale about the infamous Borgia family. However, as strong as it started, it just as quickly devolved.
Puzo passed away before he could complete his work and The Family was completed by Carol Gino. While I'm loathe to blame the dual authorship for the books inconsistenticies, for Gino deserves a thank you for completing the work so that we could experience Puzo's final vision, I honestly feel that the dual voices were in the end the problem. While I don't know for certain where Puzo left off before his passing, around the midway point, the story began to dissolve into one exaggerated scheme after another. Pivotal characters suddenly disappeared for long periods of time, while secondary characters suddenly became the masterminds behind the entire plot.
It's as if, in the face of uncertainty regarding the final destination of the story, it was decided that it was best to do more rather than less, exploit every possibly sin and crime laid against this family historically, even if it didn't make complete sense with where the story started. All nuance and character depth was sacrificed in the name of shock value and by the end of the book, there wasn't time left in the characters life historically, to do their story justice.
A disappointing end to a beginning with so much spectacular potential.
In the beginning, the book fulfilled all it promised the reader it would be. It was lush with grandeur and decadence. The characters were intricate and detailed, with the specific sort of nuances only Mario Puzo could provide, the nuances that made a reader invest in a character, love them, in spite of all their garish sins, something quite necessary when relating a tale about the infamous Borgia family. However, as strong as it started, it just as quickly devolved.
Puzo passed away before he could complete his work and The Family was completed by Carol Gino. While I'm loathe to blame the dual authorship for the books inconsistenticies, for Gino deserves a thank you for completing the work so that we could experience Puzo's final vision, I honestly feel that the dual voices were in the end the problem. While I don't know for certain where Puzo left off before his passing, around the midway point, the story began to dissolve into one exaggerated scheme after another. Pivotal characters suddenly disappeared for long periods of time, while secondary characters suddenly became the masterminds behind the entire plot.
It's as if, in the face of uncertainty regarding the final destination of the story, it was decided that it was best to do more rather than less, exploit every possibly sin and crime laid against this family historically, even if it didn't make complete sense with where the story started. All nuance and character depth was sacrificed in the name of shock value and by the end of the book, there wasn't time left in the characters life historically, to do their story justice.
A disappointing end to a beginning with so much spectacular potential.
June 8, 2026
Bulgarian review first, followed by the English translation below
Романът не е “чист” Марио Пузо - все пак е завършен и издаден доста след смъртта му. Но предвид стерилните днешни стандарти на и иго издаването, днес не би била публикувана изобщо.
Въпреки някои противоречиви сюжетни решения (най-вече в посока опростяване на сложните отношения между разпокъсаните италиански градове-държави и в самото Папство, но иначе трябваше да са поне 800 страници…), дава изчерпателна панорама на интригите в странното семейство на папа Александър VI и папски Рим от Ренесанса. Сериалът “Борджиите” с изключителния Джеръми Айрънс е прекрасно допълнение, макар да не е директно по Пузо.
Тук са налице човешката страна зад добрите, злите чудовищните дела, достатъчното придържане към фактите, познаването на механизмите на епохата, съчетани с лекият стил. Какво повече му трябва на един читател…
Романът не е “чист” Марио Пузо - все пак е завършен и издаден доста след смъртта му. Но предвид стерилните днешни стандарти на и иго издаването, днес не би била публикувана изобщо.
Въпреки някои противоречиви сюжетни решения (най-вече в посока опростяване на сложните отношения между разпокъсаните италиански градове-държави и в самото Папство, но иначе трябваше да са поне 800 страници…), дава изчерпателна панорама на интригите в странното семейство на папа Александър VI и папски Рим от Ренесанса. Сериалът “Борджиите” с изключителния Джеръми Айрънс е прекрасно допълнение, макар да не е директно по Пузо.
Тук са налице човешката страна зад добрите, злите чудовищните дела, достатъчното придържане към фактите, познаването на механизмите на епохата, съчетани с лекият стил. Какво повече му трябва на един читател…
The novel is not "pure" Mario Puzo—after all, it was finished and published well after his death. But given today’s sterile publishing standards, it wouldn’t be published at all today.
Despite some controversial plot choices (mostly aiming to simplify the complex relationships between the fragmented Italian city-states and within the Papacy itself, though otherwise it would have had to be at least 800 pages...), it offers a comprehensive panorama of the intrigues within the strange family of Pope Alexander VI and Papal Rome during the Renaissance. The TV series The Borgias, featuring the exceptional Jeremy Irons, is a wonderful companion piece, even if it isn't directly based on Puzo.
Here you will find the human side behind the good, evil, and monstrous deeds, a solid adherence to facts, and a deep understanding of the mechanisms of the era, all combined with a fluent, effortless style. What more could a reader ask for...
April 28, 2024
A move away from modern day Mafia stories to the Italian Renaissance equivalent, Puzo's passion project was completed after Puzo's death by friend Carol Gino. While all three familiar tropes of his work are included - loyalty, betrayal, intrigue, murder, sex - it does feel lacking in style. Diverting and interesting to read something different from him, but not up there with his better work.
January 29, 2019
where the heck was Jofre at the end???? I HAD A FULL ENDING FOR HIM!! It's a shame. My favorite characters are usually secondaries...
August 22, 2010
This book makes you want to know everything about the Borgias. It is really well narrated, and the story becomes so intriguing that it is impossible to stop reading. Just as The Godfather, the head of the family (Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope Alexandre VI) is an ambicious and powerful man, who doesnt have any doubts to get rid of anybody who dares to stand on his way. But, after all, he is a family man. He loves his children, specially Lucretia and Giovanni, who seems to be his weak point. Anyway it doesnt stop him from arranging Lucretia's marriages to whom he considered the best alliances to make, and forcing her to obbey him. Cesar Borgia, in my oppinion, is one of those characters you will hardly forget. He loves and hates with the same intensity. He is an innate warrior and fights for the chance to chose his own destiny over his father's plans for him.
The story is based in true facts with a fictional surrounding, and it reveals a great deal of corruption in the Vatican of the Renassaince. It can be a story of betrayal, violence, corruption and crime, but above all, it is a story of love. Love in every gruesome and twisted way, but love after all.
The story is based in true facts with a fictional surrounding, and it reveals a great deal of corruption in the Vatican of the Renassaince. It can be a story of betrayal, violence, corruption and crime, but above all, it is a story of love. Love in every gruesome and twisted way, but love after all.
July 31, 2022
4.5
Este libro nos presenta la historia de la familia Borgia. El papa Alejandro IV y sus hijos crearon un imperio lleno de poder, el autor nos muestra lo que les costó lograrlo.
Los celos, la envidia, la ambición desmedida, la traición y las relaciones prohibidas están presentes en toda la historia.
Los personajes están muy bien delineados y son presentados de una manera magistral, la historia engancha desde el inicio.
“La lealtad a la familia debe estar por encima de cualquier otra consideración”.
“Sin amor, el poder convierte a los hombres en animales”.
Este libro nos presenta la historia de la familia Borgia. El papa Alejandro IV y sus hijos crearon un imperio lleno de poder, el autor nos muestra lo que les costó lograrlo.
Los celos, la envidia, la ambición desmedida, la traición y las relaciones prohibidas están presentes en toda la historia.
Los personajes están muy bien delineados y son presentados de una manera magistral, la historia engancha desde el inicio.
“La lealtad a la familia debe estar por encima de cualquier otra consideración”.
“Sin amor, el poder convierte a los hombres en animales”.
December 3, 2019
This book is a very different, very intimate, very compelling look at the Borgia family. The unapologetic and sympathetic manner in which the author depicts the passion between Cesare and Lucrezia may horrify some readers, but others will find it moving and tender.
August 29, 2024
Fascynująca konfrontacja z burzliwą historią jednego z najpotężniejszych rodów w dziejach, który w stronę ambicji i władzy nie wahał się sięgnąć po najbardziej skandaliczne metody. Opisując intrygi, korupcję i brutalność dynastii Borgiów, Puzo nie tylko portretuje osobistości i wydarzenia kształtujące epokę, ale również kładzie nacisk na mroczne związki Kościoła z mafią.
Rodrigo Borgia, jako papież Aleksander VI, to postać, która z całą mocą uwypukla moralny relatywizm i hipokryzję tego okresu. Jego działania, będące wynikiem pragnienia władzy przypominające dzisiejsze analizy mafijnych struktur ukazują, jak w imię władzy i ochrony rodziny potrafił łamać wszelkie zasady etyczne i moralne.
Powieść łączy w sobie elementy fikcji oraz historycznych wydarzeń, ukazując złożone relacje międzyludzkie, ambicje, zdrady i przemoc, towarzyszące upadkowi i splendorowi rodziny Borgiów.
To, co skrywa się pod płaszczykiem potęgi Kościoła, to złożona siatka ludzkich ambicji i moralnych dylematów, co czyni tę powieść równie aktualną dzisiaj, jak w epoce Borgiów. Z jednej strony autor ukazuje brutalność władzy, a z drugiej – i to jest istotne – ilustruje, jak w trudnych czasach ludzie poszukują dla siebie miejsca, często przyjmując role, które umniejszają ich prawdziwą wartość.
Zakończenie sugeruje, że świat Borgiów to niepokojące preludium do późniejszej mafijnej rzeczywistości ale równocześnie może być postrzegane jako próba zrozumienia korzeni ludzkiej ambicji i chciwości. Puzo z powodzeniem ukazuje, że niezależnie od kontekstu - czy to mafia, czy arystokratycja- ambicje i pragnienie dominacji jednostki mogą prowadzić do dehumanizacji oraz działań, które w świetle ogólnospołecznych norm wydają się absolutnie nieakceptowalne.
Rodrigo Borgia, jako papież Aleksander VI, to postać, która z całą mocą uwypukla moralny relatywizm i hipokryzję tego okresu. Jego działania, będące wynikiem pragnienia władzy przypominające dzisiejsze analizy mafijnych struktur ukazują, jak w imię władzy i ochrony rodziny potrafił łamać wszelkie zasady etyczne i moralne.
Powieść łączy w sobie elementy fikcji oraz historycznych wydarzeń, ukazując złożone relacje międzyludzkie, ambicje, zdrady i przemoc, towarzyszące upadkowi i splendorowi rodziny Borgiów.
To, co skrywa się pod płaszczykiem potęgi Kościoła, to złożona siatka ludzkich ambicji i moralnych dylematów, co czyni tę powieść równie aktualną dzisiaj, jak w epoce Borgiów. Z jednej strony autor ukazuje brutalność władzy, a z drugiej – i to jest istotne – ilustruje, jak w trudnych czasach ludzie poszukują dla siebie miejsca, często przyjmując role, które umniejszają ich prawdziwą wartość.
Zakończenie sugeruje, że świat Borgiów to niepokojące preludium do późniejszej mafijnej rzeczywistości ale równocześnie może być postrzegane jako próba zrozumienia korzeni ludzkiej ambicji i chciwości. Puzo z powodzeniem ukazuje, że niezależnie od kontekstu - czy to mafia, czy arystokratycja- ambicje i pragnienie dominacji jednostki mogą prowadzić do dehumanizacji oraz działań, które w świetle ogólnospołecznych norm wydają się absolutnie nieakceptowalne.
Read
February 23, 2019Years ago, when rumors of this book - in which "Godfather" author Mario Puzo tells the story of the notorious Renaissance Borgia family - I told an old friend I was worried that when I read it, I wouldn't be able to stop giggling at how silly it would be. My old friend patiently reminded me that ALL of Puzo's novels are giggle-inducingly silly. True enough, but "The Family" is special.
" 'I'll help you finish the Borgia book,' [Puzo's collaborator Carol Gino] offered one day in 1995, after we'd spent a particularly interesting day talking about the nature of love, relationships, and betrayal.
'I don't collaborate until after I'm dead,' he said, smiling at me.
'Okay,' I said. 'But then what do I do with an unfinished book?' I sounded calmer than I felt.
He laughed at me. 'Finish it,' he said."
And so, here we are: a breathless, hurtling novel about the Borgia Pope and his children and their various intrigues. Nobody has ever succeeded in making the Borgias more interesting in fiction than they are in actual history, and Puzo & Gino don't succeed either. But as long as you're OK having quite a bit of, um, cazzate mixed in with your historical fiction, you'll find this mighty entertaining.
" 'I'll help you finish the Borgia book,' [Puzo's collaborator Carol Gino] offered one day in 1995, after we'd spent a particularly interesting day talking about the nature of love, relationships, and betrayal.
'I don't collaborate until after I'm dead,' he said, smiling at me.
'Okay,' I said. 'But then what do I do with an unfinished book?' I sounded calmer than I felt.
He laughed at me. 'Finish it,' he said."
And so, here we are: a breathless, hurtling novel about the Borgia Pope and his children and their various intrigues. Nobody has ever succeeded in making the Borgias more interesting in fiction than they are in actual history, and Puzo & Gino don't succeed either. But as long as you're OK having quite a bit of, um, cazzate mixed in with your historical fiction, you'll find this mighty entertaining.
February 26, 2021
Claramente, Mario Puzo dominaba muy bien la historia de los Borgia y de todos los personajes relacionados a ellos. A mi, de inicio, me costó un poco acostumbrarme a las apariciones de muchos nombres en unas pocas hojas, pero creo que la historia creada fue muy interesante y me mantuvo pensando ¿qué vas a pasar ahora?
February 26, 2012
This book had the makings of something special. The Borgias are an original mob family. Instead of owning a territory or even a city...they owned nations and religions. In the hands of Puzo? WOW!
I don't know at which point Puzo stopped writing and Carol Gino picked up. I can only guess that Puzo didn't get very far and/or the editors made a terrible mess of what was left. The story has absolutely no depth, and the characters have even less. The story, if one can call this narrative a 'story', is more of an outline than anything else I can describe. One can almost imagine the bullet points preceding each paragraph. I desperately wanted the early overview chapters to be a foundation upon which a masterful "Godfather"-like story would rest.
Instead, I became desperate to put the book down. And so I did.
Quite simply, this book is unreadable.
I don't know at which point Puzo stopped writing and Carol Gino picked up. I can only guess that Puzo didn't get very far and/or the editors made a terrible mess of what was left. The story has absolutely no depth, and the characters have even less. The story, if one can call this narrative a 'story', is more of an outline than anything else I can describe. One can almost imagine the bullet points preceding each paragraph. I desperately wanted the early overview chapters to be a foundation upon which a masterful "Godfather"-like story would rest.
Instead, I became desperate to put the book down. And so I did.
Quite simply, this book is unreadable.
February 12, 2023
My comments in video: https://youtu.be/Bm4HWEw6Vkk
Classic vs. Modern; Master vs. Master.
They present us with the history of the Borgia, famous for being a family that drags the fame of its evil. Here I compare the versions of the master of the genre Mario Puzo (author of The Godfather) and the themes of mafia families; and that of the great French writer Alexandre Dumas who takes advantage of historical mysteries to enlighten and entertain us.
An author managed to keep my interest, offering powerful scenes, revealing curious facts and presenting intimate thoughts of the historical figures; while the other one disappointed me for the partiality it presents, for the inconsequential and improbable presentation of other historical characters (making them appear in insubstantial Cameos), for the inconsistencies in the character profiles, for important facts that he does not go into depth, and for some criticisms that I mentioned in Posteguillo's work (Roma is me), where he traces the profiles of the characters from their childhood as if they had not changed throughout life, or as Steve Jobs said, connecting the dots backwards in history instead of showing us how they unfold forward.
Which one did I like more? In both the moral dilemmas are interesting. What do you think?
Clásico vs. Moderno; Maestro vs. Maestro.
Nos presentan la historia de los Borgia, famosos por ser una familia que arrastra la fama de su maldad. Acá comparo las versiones del maestro del género Mario Puzo (autor de The Godfather) y los temas de familias mafiosas; y la del gran escritor francés Alexandre Dumas que aprovecha los misterios históricos para ilustrarnos y entretenernos.
Un autor logró mantener mi interés, ofreciendo escenas poderosas, revelando hechos curiosos y presentando pensamientos íntimos de los personajes históricos; mientras que el otro me defraudó por la parcialidad que presenta, por la presentación intrascendente e inverosímil de otros personajes históricos (haciéndolos aparecer en Cameos insustanciales), por las incoherencias en los perfiles de los personajes, por hechos importantes que no profundiza, y por algunas críticas que mencioné en la obra de Posteguillo (Roma soy yo), donde traza los perfiles de los personajes desde su infancia como si no hubieran cambiado a lo largo de la vida, o como decía Steve Jobs, uniendo los puntos hacia atrás en la historia en vez de mostrarnos cómo se revelan hacia adelante.
Cual me gustó más? En ambas resultan interesantes los dilemas morales. ¿Ustedes qué opinan?
Classic vs. Modern; Master vs. Master.
They present us with the history of the Borgia, famous for being a family that drags the fame of its evil. Here I compare the versions of the master of the genre Mario Puzo (author of The Godfather) and the themes of mafia families; and that of the great French writer Alexandre Dumas who takes advantage of historical mysteries to enlighten and entertain us.
An author managed to keep my interest, offering powerful scenes, revealing curious facts and presenting intimate thoughts of the historical figures; while the other one disappointed me for the partiality it presents, for the inconsequential and improbable presentation of other historical characters (making them appear in insubstantial Cameos), for the inconsistencies in the character profiles, for important facts that he does not go into depth, and for some criticisms that I mentioned in Posteguillo's work (Roma is me), where he traces the profiles of the characters from their childhood as if they had not changed throughout life, or as Steve Jobs said, connecting the dots backwards in history instead of showing us how they unfold forward.
Which one did I like more? In both the moral dilemmas are interesting. What do you think?
Clásico vs. Moderno; Maestro vs. Maestro.
Nos presentan la historia de los Borgia, famosos por ser una familia que arrastra la fama de su maldad. Acá comparo las versiones del maestro del género Mario Puzo (autor de The Godfather) y los temas de familias mafiosas; y la del gran escritor francés Alexandre Dumas que aprovecha los misterios históricos para ilustrarnos y entretenernos.
Un autor logró mantener mi interés, ofreciendo escenas poderosas, revelando hechos curiosos y presentando pensamientos íntimos de los personajes históricos; mientras que el otro me defraudó por la parcialidad que presenta, por la presentación intrascendente e inverosímil de otros personajes históricos (haciéndolos aparecer en Cameos insustanciales), por las incoherencias en los perfiles de los personajes, por hechos importantes que no profundiza, y por algunas críticas que mencioné en la obra de Posteguillo (Roma soy yo), donde traza los perfiles de los personajes desde su infancia como si no hubieran cambiado a lo largo de la vida, o como decía Steve Jobs, uniendo los puntos hacia atrás en la historia en vez de mostrarnos cómo se revelan hacia adelante.
Cual me gustó más? En ambas resultan interesantes los dilemas morales. ¿Ustedes qué opinan?
November 1, 2015
Odlična knjiga o obitelji Borgija. Mario Puzo desetak je godina istraživao i sakupljao građu za ovaj roman, ipak nije ga uspio dovršiti pa je to učinila njegova partnerica Carol Gino. Radnja prati period "vladavine" Rodriga Borgije tj. pape Aleksandra VI i njegove obitelji koji su svi, na neki način, značajno utjecali na politiku svoga vremena, renesansne Italije. Sinovi Juan, Cesare i Jofre; kćerka Lucrezia svi su oni bili, na neki način "pijuni" kojima je otac upravljao kako bi proširio svoju moć i puno dalje od granica Italije. Uz tadašnji način života, odlično su opisani i privatni životi likova; njihovi (politički dogovoreni) brakovi, međusobni odnosi kao i njihova razmišljanja o životu i vremenu u kojem žive. A vrijeme je to i velikih povijesnih osoba poput Machiavellia, Leonarda da Vincija, Michelangela i sr. koji se također pojavljuju u knjizi. Vjerujem da je većina ljubitelja žanra već pročitala Obitelj, a, ako niste, onda to svakako učinite.
August 28, 2018
Ne znam zašto, ali ovog puta nisam bila toliko oduševljena Porodicom kao dok sam je čitala prethodnih nekoliko puta. Delovalo mi je kao da pisac nije previše ulazio u suštinu likova, već da je više vršio hronologiju njihovih života, trudeći se da obuhvati apsolutno sve, a onda se nekako usput izgubila povezanost sa likovima, koje do kraja više posmatramo kao glumce u nekoj pozorišnoj predstavi, čije se scene brzo smenjuju.
January 11, 2022
Tai romanas apie garsiąją Bordžijų šeimą viešpatavusią 14-15 a. Kas nėra matęs garsiojo Showtime serialo „The Borgias“? Ar žaidę Assassin‘s Creed: Brotherhood“? Ar bent jau kažką girdėję apie šią šeimą? Manau kiekvienas bent šiek tiek kažko yra girdėję. O štai man Bordžijų šeima tapo lyg mano pačio... viskas prasidėjo nuo „Assassin‘s Creed: Brotherhood“, kur pirmą kartą susipažinau Čezare Bordžija ir įsimylėjau iki ausų. Nuo tada ieškau knygų apie šią šeimą. Šita Mario Puzo knyga turbūt yra vienintelė prieinama lietuvių kalba.
Nors man labai patiko šita knyga, bet užkliuvo blogai išversti asmenvardžiai. Vertėja naudoja Bordža, vietoj Bordžija ir dar Džiofrio vardą išvertė kaip Chofrė (čia turbūt vertė pagal ispaniškai J raidę, kuri tariasi CH, nors italų kalboje J yra tariama DŽ. Taip kaip Giovanni tariasi Džiovanis). Na, bet tiek to... Mintyse skaitant taisiau taip kaip turi būti. Skaityti knygą buvo kiek sunkoka, nes skyriai ilgi, o ir dialogų nėra per daugiausia- praktiškai pastovus ištisinis tekstas. Negaliu teigti, jog ir visi istoriniai faktai teisingi, nes Čezarė kai žuvo Vianos mūšyje buvo išrengtas nuogai, uždėta raudona plyta ant genitalijų ir niekas jo nepažino, tik vėliau palaidotas Ispanijoje, o ne Italijoje kaip rašoma paskutiniame knygos skyriuje. Bet nepaisant tokių nukrypimų ir neteisingų asmenvardžių- knyga man pasirodė galbūt ir geresnė nei Sarah Dunant „Blood and Beauty“. Čia mano mylimasis Čezarė parodytas ne toks blogas, o galima sakyti žmogiškas ir mylintis, o ne pabaisa. Lukrecija taip pat parodyta kiek labiau subrendusi nei kitose knygose.
Tad knyga man tikrai patiko ir džiaugiuosi perskaitęs.
Nors man labai patiko šita knyga, bet užkliuvo blogai išversti asmenvardžiai. Vertėja naudoja Bordža, vietoj Bordžija ir dar Džiofrio vardą išvertė kaip Chofrė (čia turbūt vertė pagal ispaniškai J raidę, kuri tariasi CH, nors italų kalboje J yra tariama DŽ. Taip kaip Giovanni tariasi Džiovanis). Na, bet tiek to... Mintyse skaitant taisiau taip kaip turi būti. Skaityti knygą buvo kiek sunkoka, nes skyriai ilgi, o ir dialogų nėra per daugiausia- praktiškai pastovus ištisinis tekstas. Negaliu teigti, jog ir visi istoriniai faktai teisingi, nes Čezarė kai žuvo Vianos mūšyje buvo išrengtas nuogai, uždėta raudona plyta ant genitalijų ir niekas jo nepažino, tik vėliau palaidotas Ispanijoje, o ne Italijoje kaip rašoma paskutiniame knygos skyriuje. Bet nepaisant tokių nukrypimų ir neteisingų asmenvardžių- knyga man pasirodė galbūt ir geresnė nei Sarah Dunant „Blood and Beauty“. Čia mano mylimasis Čezarė parodytas ne toks blogas, o galima sakyti žmogiškas ir mylintis, o ne pabaisa. Lukrecija taip pat parodyta kiek labiau subrendusi nei kitose knygose.
Tad knyga man tikrai patiko ir džiaugiuosi perskaitęs.
December 15, 2014
-¿Los Corleone en el Renacimiento? Pues no.-
Género. Novela Histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Rodrigo Borgia es cardenal, vicecanciller del papa Inocencio y padre de varios hijos, cuatro de los cuales le son muy cercanos y sería de su agrado que, algún día, le ayudasen a la unificación de los Estados Pontificios, tal vez de toda Italia y con seguridad a llevar la palabra de Dios a todos los rincones del mundo, porque en Rodrigo Borgia lo político, lo religioso y lo personal ocupan esferas muy próximas y comunes en la mayoría de las ocasiones. Los hijos, por su parte, tienen personalidades muy distintas y unas relaciones muy peculiares entre ellos y con su propio padre.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela Histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Rodrigo Borgia es cardenal, vicecanciller del papa Inocencio y padre de varios hijos, cuatro de los cuales le son muy cercanos y sería de su agrado que, algún día, le ayudasen a la unificación de los Estados Pontificios, tal vez de toda Italia y con seguridad a llevar la palabra de Dios a todos los rincones del mundo, porque en Rodrigo Borgia lo político, lo religioso y lo personal ocupan esferas muy próximas y comunes en la mayoría de las ocasiones. Los hijos, por su parte, tienen personalidades muy distintas y unas relaciones muy peculiares entre ellos y con su propio padre.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
June 15, 2017
We are a family, and the loyalty of the family must come before anything and everyone else. For if we honor that commitment, we will never be vanquished-but if we falter in that loyalty we will all be condemned.
October 8, 2016
Fenomenale
May 11, 2026
„Wielkie czyny wymagają wielkich poświęceń”.
Czy w myśl wyższego dobra można zabijać, torturować i kraść? Tylko kto ma prawo decydować, „która przyczyna jest szlachetna i moralnie uzasadniona”? Czy wyższe dobro nie staje się w końcu wymówką do „wyeliminowania kłopotliwych ludzi”?
Powieść Maria Puzo „Rodzina Borgiów” mimo że traktuje o najwyższych strukturach Kościoła katolickiego, zdaje się przedstawiać schemat funkcjonowania włoskiej mafii. Zabiera nas do Watykanu w czasie, gdy papieżem dość niespodziewanie zostaje Rodrigo Borgia, wybierając sobie imię Aleksandra VI. I choć obracamy się w sferach kościelnych, nie ma tu miejsca na pobożność, moralność, wspólnotę i dobro. Jest za to niewyobrażalny przepych, bezwzględna walka o władzę, chciwość, zdrada i grzech. Dla Aleksandra ważniejsza od Boga jest jego rodzina, w której, podobnie jak w mafii, lojalność wobec jej członków jest najwyższą wartością. Jednocześnie swoje dzieci traktuje jak pionki na szachownicy, by ugrać nimi jak najwięcej dla swoich imperialistycznych zapędów tłumaczonych dobrem Kościoła.
Czytałam już wcześniej o kontrowersjach wokół Kościoła, choćby związanych z polowaniem na czarownice czy legitymizowaniem działań Hitlera, ale ta powieść wylewa na Aleksandra VI i jego rodzinę morze plugastwa i zgnilizny. Przeraża poziomem korupcji, zepsucia, hipokryzji i zła w najczystszej formie. Oczywiście warto pamiętać, że choć osadzona w realiach historycznych i powołująca się na autentyczne postacie z tej epoki, jak choćby Niccolò Machiavelli czy Leonardo da Vinci, w dużej mierze jest ona fikcją literacką.
Jej lektura zajęła mi więcej czasu niż w przypadku innych powieści o podobnych gabarytach, bo wymaga ciągłej, wytężonej uwagi. Jest wypełniona konkretami i szczegółami dotyczącymi ówczesnej, skomplikowanej i niestabilnej sytuacji społecznej i politycznej. Nieliczne, luźniejsze fragmenty stanowią dialogi, w szczególności rodzeństwa - Cezara, Juana i Lukrecji. A jednak potrafiła mnie porwać zarówno historią wiecznych rozgrywek na wysokich szczeblach, ciągłych knowań, namiętności i zdrad, jak i losem dzieci Aleksandra, których szczęście ten był w stanie poświęcić dla swoich celów.
Ile w plotkach o rodzinie Borgiów jest prawdy? I czy rzeczywiście można ją uznać za pierwszą rodzinę mafijną we Włoszech? Na te pytania pewnie już nie znajdziemy historycznie uzasadnionej odpowiedzi, ale powieść pozwala na większą dozę dowolności i popuszczenie wodzów fantazji. Sprawdźcie sami, jaki obraz rodziny się z niej wyłania.
Czy w myśl wyższego dobra można zabijać, torturować i kraść? Tylko kto ma prawo decydować, „która przyczyna jest szlachetna i moralnie uzasadniona”? Czy wyższe dobro nie staje się w końcu wymówką do „wyeliminowania kłopotliwych ludzi”?
Powieść Maria Puzo „Rodzina Borgiów” mimo że traktuje o najwyższych strukturach Kościoła katolickiego, zdaje się przedstawiać schemat funkcjonowania włoskiej mafii. Zabiera nas do Watykanu w czasie, gdy papieżem dość niespodziewanie zostaje Rodrigo Borgia, wybierając sobie imię Aleksandra VI. I choć obracamy się w sferach kościelnych, nie ma tu miejsca na pobożność, moralność, wspólnotę i dobro. Jest za to niewyobrażalny przepych, bezwzględna walka o władzę, chciwość, zdrada i grzech. Dla Aleksandra ważniejsza od Boga jest jego rodzina, w której, podobnie jak w mafii, lojalność wobec jej członków jest najwyższą wartością. Jednocześnie swoje dzieci traktuje jak pionki na szachownicy, by ugrać nimi jak najwięcej dla swoich imperialistycznych zapędów tłumaczonych dobrem Kościoła.
Czytałam już wcześniej o kontrowersjach wokół Kościoła, choćby związanych z polowaniem na czarownice czy legitymizowaniem działań Hitlera, ale ta powieść wylewa na Aleksandra VI i jego rodzinę morze plugastwa i zgnilizny. Przeraża poziomem korupcji, zepsucia, hipokryzji i zła w najczystszej formie. Oczywiście warto pamiętać, że choć osadzona w realiach historycznych i powołująca się na autentyczne postacie z tej epoki, jak choćby Niccolò Machiavelli czy Leonardo da Vinci, w dużej mierze jest ona fikcją literacką.
Jej lektura zajęła mi więcej czasu niż w przypadku innych powieści o podobnych gabarytach, bo wymaga ciągłej, wytężonej uwagi. Jest wypełniona konkretami i szczegółami dotyczącymi ówczesnej, skomplikowanej i niestabilnej sytuacji społecznej i politycznej. Nieliczne, luźniejsze fragmenty stanowią dialogi, w szczególności rodzeństwa - Cezara, Juana i Lukrecji. A jednak potrafiła mnie porwać zarówno historią wiecznych rozgrywek na wysokich szczeblach, ciągłych knowań, namiętności i zdrad, jak i losem dzieci Aleksandra, których szczęście ten był w stanie poświęcić dla swoich celów.
Ile w plotkach o rodzinie Borgiów jest prawdy? I czy rzeczywiście można ją uznać za pierwszą rodzinę mafijną we Włoszech? Na te pytania pewnie już nie znajdziemy historycznie uzasadnionej odpowiedzi, ale powieść pozwala na większą dozę dowolności i popuszczenie wodzów fantazji. Sprawdźcie sami, jaki obraz rodziny się z niej wyłania.
May 6, 2012
I don't like to speak ill of the dead, so I'll try to make this as short, sweet, and honest as possible.
Mario Puzo clearly enjoyed the Borgia clan almost as much as I do. He clearly put a lot of time and effort into this book. He clearly put a lot of love into "The Family". However, he encounters two very problematic issues.
Firstly, he was completely off-base in his interpretation of the Borgias, and thus he fails to make them effective and interesting characters. Even when he's supposed to be flawed, Alexander Sextus is presented as this glorious man we're supposed to believe in constantly. Or maybe we're supposed to hate him? I don't know. Compared to Jeremy Irons' and Neil Jordan's interpretation of Alexander as a man who alternates humanly between bumbling and scheming, this person is weird and annoying, and... almost a bit of a try-hard?
Then there's Lucrezia, who Puzo viewed as a "good girl" (her tendency towards incest notwithstanding). And nothing else. Really. She just spent a lot of time being a damsel and standing in as this angel for Cesare and Rodrigo, and... yes. No. Stop. Her adultery was either not mentioned or glossed over, unless it was with Cesare. (Which did not happen in reality, but whatever.)
Cesare is presented as a failed hero. Puzo tries so hard to make him easy to relate to and heroic that he forgot that history says that this man had a serious problem. Cesare Borgia was borderline sociopathic; he loved no one but his sister. He was calculating and cruel, and that is exactly why he was successful. Puzo makes him more of a bad boy than a monster. He's afraid to "go there".
And I won't spend much time on this, but--the second problem is that Puzo is a mediocre if not bad writer in terms of prose. This is just... very clunky. Very awkward. It's clear to me that whatever he wrote for "The Godfather"--my favorite movie--worked better as a screenplay.
The sentimentality and effort is appreciated; however, this book is ultimately a failure.
Mario Puzo clearly enjoyed the Borgia clan almost as much as I do. He clearly put a lot of time and effort into this book. He clearly put a lot of love into "The Family". However, he encounters two very problematic issues.
Firstly, he was completely off-base in his interpretation of the Borgias, and thus he fails to make them effective and interesting characters. Even when he's supposed to be flawed, Alexander Sextus is presented as this glorious man we're supposed to believe in constantly. Or maybe we're supposed to hate him? I don't know. Compared to Jeremy Irons' and Neil Jordan's interpretation of Alexander as a man who alternates humanly between bumbling and scheming, this person is weird and annoying, and... almost a bit of a try-hard?
Then there's Lucrezia, who Puzo viewed as a "good girl" (her tendency towards incest notwithstanding). And nothing else. Really. She just spent a lot of time being a damsel and standing in as this angel for Cesare and Rodrigo, and... yes. No. Stop. Her adultery was either not mentioned or glossed over, unless it was with Cesare. (Which did not happen in reality, but whatever.)
Cesare is presented as a failed hero. Puzo tries so hard to make him easy to relate to and heroic that he forgot that history says that this man had a serious problem. Cesare Borgia was borderline sociopathic; he loved no one but his sister. He was calculating and cruel, and that is exactly why he was successful. Puzo makes him more of a bad boy than a monster. He's afraid to "go there".
And I won't spend much time on this, but--the second problem is that Puzo is a mediocre if not bad writer in terms of prose. This is just... very clunky. Very awkward. It's clear to me that whatever he wrote for "The Godfather"--my favorite movie--worked better as a screenplay.
The sentimentality and effort is appreciated; however, this book is ultimately a failure.
August 22, 2012
With the start of the new Showtime series The Borgias, I had to read one of the few remaining books on the Borgias that I own but hadn't read. Mario Puzo was fascinated by the Borgias all his life, and this was his chance to show his own interpretations of each Borgia personality, usually different from the standard views. His descriptions didn't give me the feeling of being there or knowing the characters; Puzo looked at the characters from an over-all viewpoint for decades, and didn't seem able to immerse himself in the minute.
Most noticeable is what looks like a whitewash of Cesare. The most interesting character arc is Jofre's. The most scandalous story line is Pope Alexander's method of guaranteeing Lucrezia's loyalty to their family before her first marriage. The most unbelievable is Puzo's theory that the Borgias' official in charge of ceremonies, whose detailed diaries of Borgia court life are such meat to historians, was filling his volumes with slanderous lies.
The most astonishing thing is that after a whole series of popes who conducted their papacies with flagrant criminality, half of Europe still fought to support the institution of papal dominance and infallibility. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Most noticeable is what looks like a whitewash of Cesare. The most interesting character arc is Jofre's. The most scandalous story line is Pope Alexander's method of guaranteeing Lucrezia's loyalty to their family before her first marriage. The most unbelievable is Puzo's theory that the Borgias' official in charge of ceremonies, whose detailed diaries of Borgia court life are such meat to historians, was filling his volumes with slanderous lies.
The most astonishing thing is that after a whole series of popes who conducted their papacies with flagrant criminality, half of Europe still fought to support the institution of papal dominance and infallibility. Truth is stranger than fiction.
March 22, 2016
Estoy convencida que no importa lo que Puzo escriba me va a encantar porque disfruto mucho de su forma de escribir. La cosa es que, si bien disfrute de esa parte de la historia, la familia Borgia nunca me a llamado la atención, por lo que disfrutaba lo que estaba escrito, pero no estaba relmente interesada en nada de lo que sucedia.
Habia alianzas y estrategias, personajes eran asesinados, pero a mi me daba lo mismo porque no estaba particularmente interesada por ninguno de ellos. Su final tambien fue muy apresurado y no se siente como el final.
Habia alianzas y estrategias, personajes eran asesinados, pero a mi me daba lo mismo porque no estaba particularmente interesada por ninguno de ellos. Su final tambien fue muy apresurado y no se siente como el final.
July 4, 2023
Cóż mogę rzec, miłości między nami nie było, mimo iż sama historia bardzo ciekawa. Niestety miałam wrażenie jakbym czytała fabularyzowaną książkę historyczną. Język płaski, konkretny, skupiający się na suchych faktach, brak barwnych opisów miejsc czy emocji, brak metafor itp. Przez tę formę zabrakło mi immersji, klimatu, nie mogłam się wczuć i zżyć z bohaterami.
Powieść ratuje sama historia, oparta na faktach, pełna spisków, zdrad, rozpusty, politycznych i wojennych potyczek, więc nie ma nudy.
Powieść ratuje sama historia, oparta na faktach, pełna spisków, zdrad, rozpusty, politycznych i wojennych potyczek, więc nie ma nudy.
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