Does anyone know is this a real book?

[Silver]

I am currently reading Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood, and within the book, a reference is made to a book called "The Fox" (no author name given) said to be about the Borgias. With my general interest in historical fiction and my particular interest in the Italian Renaissance, I was intrigued and wanted to look the book up, but I have not been able to find anything. There was no obvious reason to suspect this book title fictionalized by Atwood, but it is possible.

So I was wondering if anyone knows anything about such a book and if it really exists or not.

[Lori]

I haven't heard of it. You could look it up by the title in French or Italian? I know that word in French but it isn't coming to me now. Le reynard? I don't think that's right.

[Elizabeth La Lettrice]

Ooo I'd be interested to know! In Italian, it would be "la volpe."

[Silver]

I had not considered that idea, maybe I will try that. I know just trying to look up The Fox on goodreads you get 200 and something different entries, and I tried googiling The Fox book about the Borgias but nothing came up.

[Jackie]

Prince of Foxes- this is the only book I found so far that may be what she is refering too. It was originally published in 1947.

Oh and I just found The Borgia Blade by Gardner F. Fox.

Hmmm, I guess if it's not one of those you can always message her and ask. She's a GR author and I believe she even has a group here with Q&A.

[James]

I believe what she may be referring to is The Prince because Machiavelli refers to the prince having to be like a fox. Machiavelli basically focuses one chapter on Ceasar Borgia and another on the family.

[[deleted user]]

(Late to the dance)

How about

It's from the 1940's, but it certainly involves the Borgias and features a 'fox'.

[Leonide]

"Prince of Foxes" by Samuel Shellabarger is one of my favorite Italian Renaissance based historical fiction books. It's about an ambitious nobleman (at least half noble, he was illegitimate) who is also an outstanding artist. He gets caught up in intrigues between Borgias and Papal forces, and needs to find his own truth and courage to live it. Romance, adventure, swashbuckling, principles, has it all. Highly recommend.

[[deleted user]]

@Leonide -
I just loved it when I first read it. I didn't like the movie with Tyrone Power and (an astonishingly slim) Orson Wells as Cesare Borgia quite as well. That was my favorite of Shellabarger's works.

[Paul]

I think James has it right about Machiavelli's The Prince