The Vatican Princess Audiobook By C. W. Gortner cover art

The Vatican Princess

A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia

Preview
Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Vatican Princess

By: C. W. Gortner
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.50

Buy for $22.50

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

For fans of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, best-selling author C. W. Gortner effortlessly weaves history and drama in this captivating novel about one of the world's most notorious families.

Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized 15th-century Renaissance Italy, and Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty's ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival?

With the ascension of the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, a new era has dawned in Rome. Benefitting from their father's elevation are the new pope's illegitimate children - his rival sons, Cesare and Juan, and beautiful young daughter, Lucrezia - each of whom assumes an exalted position in the papal court. Privileged and adored, Lucrezia yearns to escape her childhood and play a part in her family's fortunes.

But Rome is seductive and dangerous: Alliances shift at a moment's notice as Italy's ruling dynasties strive to keep rivals at bay. As Lucrezia's father faces challenges from all sides, the threat of a French invasion forces him to marry her off to a powerful adversary. But when she discovers the brutal truth behind her alliance, Lucrezia is plunged into a perilous gambit that will require all her wits, cunning, and guile. Escaping her marriage offers the chance of happiness with a passionate prince of Naples, yet as scandalous accusations of murder and incest build against her, menacing those she loves, Lucrezia must risk everything to overcome the lethal fate imposed upon her by her Borgia blood.

Beautifully wrought, rich with fascinating historical detail, The Vatican Princess is the first novel to describe Lucrezia's coming of age in her own voice. What results is a dramatic, vivid tale set in an era of savagery and unparalleled splendor, where enemies and allies can be one and the same and where loyalty to family can ultimately be a curse.

©2016 C.W. Gortner (P)2016 Random House Audio
Fiction Historical Fiction Italy Royalty Rome Heartfelt Pope Vatican Historical Fiction
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup

Critic reviews

"Elegantly written and deeply researched, with a pacy style and a fine eye for contemporary detail.... The world of Renaissance Italy is vividly brought to life - I'm captivated by this knowledgeable author's take on the controversial Borgias." (Alison Weir, New York Times best-selling author of Katherine of Aragon, the True Queen)
"A spiderweb of Renaissance intrigue with a cast of legendary characters, The Vatican Princess tells Lucrezia Borgia's story in her own words. Impressive research, a lush background, and deft characterization of these turbulent times make for a fascinating read." (Margaret George, New York Times best-selling author of Elizabeth I)
"Here is a marvelously evocative portrait of a young woman caught in a bewildering web of jealousy, family rivalry, vengeance, and papal politics. This is historical fiction at its best, written by a master of the genre." (Patricia Bracewell, author of Shadow on the Crown)
Riveting Storyline • Historical Detail • Excellent Narration • Plot Twists • Fantastic Voice Acting
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
This book is so well written and read that you will live and feel what happens to each character.
I was transported to the late 1400 and literally could see what they wore could hear the way they spoke and even feel the happiness and pain that each one endured.
I highly recommend this book. I will definitely look for other books narrated by Julia Whelan.

Excellent!!! I highly recommend it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I this was a version of the borgias I had not heard before. it was interesting

Pretty good book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Beautifully written (and read). I loved this book! The kind you never want to stop listening to.

Enthralling!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

couldn't put it down! very sad when the story ended. the narrator was amazing! must read!

riveting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Such a great story. I love the historic qualities but to have this kind of imagination confounds me!

such a great story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I've read a lot of books on the Borgias, mostly fiction but nonfiction as well; this book moved me like none of the others. I didn't think it was possible to shock me any further with their stories but Gortner did, and he did it very skillfully. This is my third Gortner, and I'll definitely be reading the rest of his historicals.

I laughed at parts, even snorted, surprised that I issued that sound and could hear it over the story. I gasped and I even cried, and I missed it when I wasn't listening it to it.

The narrator did a fantastic job, and she is also to be commended. I will look for her again.

This is one of the best audible books I have ever enjoyed, and I heartily recommend to you.

Absolutely LOVED it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I've said this before : a lot of people forget that this is HISTORICAL FICTION, not a History book. You can read ten biographies of the Borgias and you will find ten different versions of the facts and character of this very interesting family. We will never know exactly what happened, like many other events of the past.
I enjoyed the book and I think the narrator did a good job.

Kept me interested.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This was a wonderful listening experience. The story was well placed in history, the plot well written and developped, and the flow was great.

In addition, the narration was superbly executed. Will purchase from this author or this narrator again.

facinating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Absolutely stunning! The writing is superb! The narration is masterful! This is an exquisite masterpiece!

A must listen!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved this book - could not stop listening! Kept my interest throughout. Narration was well done as well.

Engaging book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews