The Borgias Audiobook By Paul Strathern cover art

The Borgias

Power and Depravity in Renaissance Italy

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The Borgias

By: Paul Strathern
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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The Borgia family have become a byword for evil. Corruption, incest, ruthless megalomania, avarice, and vicious cruelty - all have been associated with their name. And yet, paradoxically, this family lived when the Renaissance was coming into its full flowering in Italy. Examples of infamy flourished alongside some of the finest art produced in western history.

This is but one of several paradoxes associated with the Borgia family. For the family which produced corrupt popes, depraved princes, and poisoners, would also produce a saint. These paradoxes which so characterize the Borgias have seldom been examined in great detail. Previously history has tended to condemn, or attempt in part to exonerate, this remarkable family. Yet in order to understand the Borgias, much more is needed than evidence for and against. The Borgias must be related to their time, together with the world which enabled them to flourish. Within this context the Renaissance itself takes on a very different aspect. Was the corruption part of the creation, or vice versa?

The primitive psychological forces which first played out in the amphitheaters of ancient Greece are all here. Along with the final, tragic downfall.

©2019 Paul Strathern (P)2019 Tantor Europe Historical Italy Renaissance Royalty Middle Ages
Engrossing Historical Account • Vivid Family Details • Excellent Narration • Balanced Perspective • Fascinating Chronology
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This was a great book highlighting the sorted lives of people in power well before there was ever reality TV. It is an insightful look into the politics of a family who controlled the Vatican for quite some time.

The Kardashians before the Kardashians

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A front seat to the intrigue of the Borgia family. Fabulous way to learn about that period in history!

Fabulous Intrigue

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These times are interesting but the people are unbelievably nasty. And nobody cares how much havoc they create. Popes and all!

Hard to believe they were so awful!

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that i must answer this. why can't I just like it. now 15 words

narration. I love the author. I've enjoyed many of his books and plan to read them all

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A superb account of one of Europe's most infamous families! loved every second of this.

superb

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Good story. Easy on the ears and not boring. Wanted it more in depth with lots of graphic fornication

Enjoyed it

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It's no wonder they made a drama based on this family. what an enthralling bunch, and well read. Would have liked a little more in depth on the financials and the connection to the Medici family, but a great overall view of the family.

Wild and exciting historical family

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Very informative and keeps the listener intrigued! Well done to the author and the narrator!

Superb

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narration and writing are great but the story of Borgias itself is mostly Cesare's fascination with ancient Roman empire and it's generals.

Borgias were no medicis

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Fine work, as usual, by this author. Strathern's interesting, balanced, and un-sensationalized account of this famous/infamous family shines a spotlight on a fascinating era in Italian history. He places Machiavelli, Da Vinci, and other key figures successfully and seamlessly into his account and goes far to explain both the author of The Prince and later scholars' fascination with this daring and conniving would-be dynasty.

Deep and Engaging

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