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The Borgias
- The Hidden History
- Narrated by: Enn Reitel
- Length: 19 hrs and 58 mins
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Publisher's summary
The startling truth behind one of the most notorious dynasties in history is revealed in a remarkable new account by the acclaimed author of The Tudors and A World Undone. Sweeping aside the gossip, slander, and distortion that have shrouded the Borgias for centuries, G. J. Meyer offers an unprecedented portrait of the infamous Renaissance family and their storied milieu.
The Borgias
They burst out of obscurity in Spain not only to capture the great prize of the papacy, but to do so twice. Throughout a tumultuous half-century - as popes, statesmen, warriors, lovers, and breathtakingly ambitious political adventurers - they held center stage in the glorious and blood-drenched pageant known to us as the Italian Renaissance, standing at the epicenter of the power games in which Europe’s kings and Italy’s warlords gambled for life-and-death stakes.
Five centuries after their fall - a fall even more sudden than their rise to the heights of power - they remain immutable symbols of the depths to which humanity can descend: Rodrigo, the Borgia who bought the papal crown and prostituted the Roman Church; Cesare, the Borgia who became first a teenage cardinal and then the most treacherous cutthroat of a violent time; Lucrezia, the Borgia as shockingly immoral as she was beautiful. These have long been stock figures in the dark chronicle of European villainy, their name synonymous with unspeakable evil.
But did these Borgias of legend actually exist? Grounding his narrative in exhaustive research and drawing from rarely examined key sources, Meyer brings fascinating new insight to the real people within the age-encrusted myth. Equally illuminating is the light he shines on the brilliant circles in which the Borgias moved and the thrilling era they helped to shape, a time of wars and political convulsions that reverberate to the present day, when Western civilization simultaneously wallowed in appalling brutality and soared to extraordinary heights. Stunning in scope, rich in telling detail, G. J. Meyer’s The Borgias is an indelible work sure to become the new standard on a family and a world that continue to enthrall.
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Critic reviews
"A vivid and at times startling reappraisal of one of the most notorious dynasties in history.... If you thought you knew the Borgias, this book will surprise you." (Tracy Borman, author of Queen of the Conqueror and Elizabeth’s Women)
"The Borgias is a fascinating look into the lives of the notorious Italian Renaissance family and its reputation for womanizing, murder and corruption. Meyer turns centuries of accepted wisdom about the Borgias on its head, probing deep into contemporary documents and neglected histories to reveal some surprising truths.... The Borgias: The Hidden History is a gripping history of a tempestuous time and an infamous family." (Shelf Awareness)
"Meyer brings his considerable skills to another infamous Renaissance family, the Borgias [and] a fresh look into the machinations of power in Renaissance Italy.... [He] makes a convincing case that the Borgias have been given a raw deal." (Historical Novels Review)
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Antony & Cleopatra
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Very good
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Isabella
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An engrossing and revolutionary biography of Isabella of Castile, the controversial Queen of Spain who sponsored Christopher Columbus's journey to the New World, established the Spanish Inquisition, and became one of the most influential female rulers in history.
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King John is familiar to everyone as the villain from the tales of Robin Hood - greedy, cowardly, despicable, and cruel. But who was the man behind the legend? Was he a monster or a capable ruler cursed by bad luck? In this new book, best-selling historian Marc Morris draws on contemporary chronicles and the king's own letters to bring the real King John vividly to life. John was dynamic, inventive, and relentless but also a figure with terrible flaws.
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Great book about Edward III
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Great book
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Excellent History of Scandinavia after the Vikings
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Philip II is not only the most famous king in Spanish history, but one of the most famous monarchs in English history: the man who married Mary Tudor and later launched the Spanish Armada against her sister Elizabeth I. This compelling biography of the most powerful European monarch of his day begins with his conception (1526) and ends with his ascent to Paradise (1603), two occurrences surprisingly well documented by contemporaries. Eminent historian Geoffrey Parker draws on four decades of research on Philip as well as a recent, extraordinary archival discovery - a trove of 3,000 documents in vaults in New York City....
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Great, but I jumbled
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Lancater and York is a riveting account of the Wars of the Roses, from beloved historian Alison Weir. The war between the houses of Lancaster and York was characterised by treachery, deceit, and bloody battles. Alison Weir's lucid and gripping account focuses on the human side of history. At the centre of the book stands Henry VI, the pious king whose mental instability led to political chaos, and his wife Margaret of Anjou, who took up her arms in her husband's cause and battled in a violent man's world.
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Dense, fascinating history...questionable delivery
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In The Normans, Lars Brownworth follows their story, from the first shock of a Viking raid on an Irish monastery to the exile of the last Norman Prince of Antioch. In the process, he brings to vivid life the Norman tapestry's rich cast of characters: figures like Rollo the Walker, William Iron-Arm, Tancred the Monkey King, and Robert Guiscard. The Normans presents a fascinating glimpse of a time when a group of restless adventurers had the world at their fingertips.
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Norsemen in Palermo
- By Jim on 02-23-15
By: Lars Brownworth
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Pretty good but historical details are terrible
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What listeners say about The Borgias
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- Troy
- 10-24-14
Mind-Blowing!
The author postulates the idea that the legend of the Borgias has trumped scholarship for the last 500 years, and that the real story is far more interesting. That's always a great setup for a good narrative history, isn't it? If any family in history has been the recipient of bad press, it's the Borgia family. Corruption, blackmail, incest... the crimes perpetuated in the Borgia name know no bounds, made more sensational by the fact that the guy pulling the strings sat on the Papal throne. But is that reputation deserved?
Meyer did such a great job tackling the Tudor dynasty, I couldn't help but be drawn to this one. Admittedly, almost every text I've ever read on the Borgias fits the stereotype of what the author describes as the problem, and I do find his scholarship to be fascinating in the extreme. The book is so carefully laid out that the political backdrop for Rodrigo's rise to power takes up the first 8 hours out of a 20 hour presentation. It's so intricate by comparison of nearly everything else in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and yet so easy to follow with Meyer's expert guidance. It makes me wish I had this book years ago when I first dipped my toes into Renaissance history. Once the dominoes are put in place, the Papal crown is placed on Rodrigo's head, and from there more dominoes are put into place every bit as fast as the ones in play start falling. It's easy to understand why this is one of those stories that gets out of control quickly.
The Borgias may never escape their legend, but Meyer's account truly is compelling, starting with the claim, supported by recently uncovered Vatican records, that Rodrigo was elected pope fair and square, unanimously. This is the sort of spin you'll find here, and the story only unfolds from there, systematically dispelling myths and verifying truths one by one. If I were making a wish list, I would want Meyer to give us companion volumes for the Medici and Sforza lines. Such tales naturally intersect and are touched upon here, but the Borgia focus of the book does taper the narrative point of view a little bit. That's probably for the best since the total story from all sides would probably be a massive rodent killer of a book. Even so, I want that book. This one is a great start.
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- WGH
- 09-06-22
One of the most fascinating history books in a long time.
A complete revision of the popular cliches on the Borgias and a magisterial immersion into Renaissance Italy. Extremely well written and fascinating from the first to the last page.
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- Ulrich Honemeyer
- 05-13-23
Prejudice revised
This deep and carefully researched insight into power struggles of the 15th century Italy and Europe and the involvement of the Borgias does away with sensationalism, unfounded prejudices and rumors. After listening one recognizes once again how quickly collective judgement follows the wrong lead…
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- Barry
- 12-17-13
Absolutely nothing wrong with this audiobook
Where does The Borgias rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This audiobook is excellent in every respect. Its a GJ Meyer book, so the narrative style is spellbinding. I have listened to his other books as well, e.g. The World Undone and The Tudors, and his book on the Borgias is just as enjoyable.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Borgias?
GJ Meyer turns the entire sprawling anti-Borgia conspiracy on its head. This is sorely needed revisinist history, delivered in a very enjoyable fashion.
What does Enn Reitel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I dont really notice the narrator - that's how good he is. He just fades into the background, which makes for a great audiobook.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes.
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23 people found this helpful
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- RAMON
- 04-09-20
Good History, Good storytellingt
This is more than a history of the Borgias. It is also tells the story of the 15th Century papacy and the Italian wars. It is very entertains and well researched.
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1 person found this helpful
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- kristen
- 07-17-19
Not thrilling
Boring in regards to the history of the borgias, but interesting in regards to renaissance Italy. Certainly reading a Borgia history focused on scandal and murder and incest would have been more interesting, but this history seemed to take a more realistic or at least more grounded approach.
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- G. Lynn
- 12-12-20
Thorough and Fascinating
I loved the background sections at the end of each chapter. They are like bonus history lessons that provide more context.
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- Kindle Custome
- 06-13-13
The Borgias better than the tv show
If you could sum up The Borgias in three words, what would they be?
Better than the TV show
What did you like best about this story?
I loved all the additional details regarding the Borja family. I enjoyed the writer's objectivity. It was as if he was a defense attorney for the Borgia family. He presented sound reason to illustrate why the Borgias were not the villians, of the Middle Ages.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Felisa Kay
- 03-06-17
Beware ..contradicts what we THINK we know
im pretty familiar with Borgias ( as seem on tv) so naturally loving history i was eager to see who they really are. but i warn you that this book makes what seems like good points saying they werent father and children but thier uncle. i don't know if it's true but book tries too explain why. i can't say anything bad I that point as i don't know details, as this was my first book on the subject. i am eager to compare. of course truth is usually duller then the story we hear so that could be a disappointment in this reading. still.. i don't think this is the only book you should read on this subject but it should be one of them.i just want to be sure things weren't left out to not confuse us.
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4 people found this helpful
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- JA
- 08-17-17
Gripping and Entertaining story
I loved this revision of the Borgia story. G.J. Meyer presents a compelling case for historians to re-examine the accepted accounts of this infamous family.
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