Strathern (The Medici) examines the rise and fall of one of history's most infamous families, directing particular attention to the lives of Pope Alexander VI and two of his favorite children, Cesare and Lucrezia. In addition to delving into the corruption that has become synonymous with the Borgia name, the author details the contemporary figures and events occurring around them, successfully placing stories within the context of the time to highlight the villainy prevalent throughout Europe during the emergence of the Renaissance. Readers unfamiliar with this period of history may find the first few chapters confusing with its slew of names, but they will quickly catch on as Rodrigo Borgia begins his rise to Pope Alexander VI. With several quality books dedicated to the Borgias, such as G.J. Meyer's The Borgias, history buffs have a plethora of avenues to explore, but Strathern's comprehensive work positions him at the top of the pack. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers interested in the drama surrounding the Borgias that spurred a number of scandalous rumors that continue to circulate today.--Katie McGaha, LA Cty. Lib., Agoura Hills

In this accessible look behind the curtain, novelist and historian Strathern (The Medici: Power, Money, and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance) lays out the history of the infamous Italian clan, whose members included popes and political leaders during the Renaissance. Strathern follows the family line, beginning with the first Borgia pope, Callixtus III, Alfons de Borja (1378-1458); through his nephew Roderigo's appointment to his papacy as Pope Alexander VI in 1492; to the death of his great-nephew Cesare Borgia, who inspired Machiavelli's The Prince. While Strathern acknowledges it's difficult to separate truth "from the exaggerations of rumor and gossip," depravity and power are linked inextricably with this family's history-the seven cardinal sins appear in abundance. Financial shenanigans multiply, from "the first time that the papacy had simply been bought outright" and transactions that resemble today's off-shore banking to Alexander VI's confiscation of all Jewish property. The Borgia reputation for prolific, promiscuous, and sometimes incestuous sexual misconduct is amply delineated. Alliances with city-states (Florence, Genoa, Naples, Venice) and nations (France) come and go, as do battles, and passages on the intrigues of papal conclaves and diplomatic machinations are lucidly rendered. Strathern makes a tangled and thorny history readable in this solid, workmanlike book. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

It is ironic that a family synonymous with degeneracy and corruption should see its historical name-recognition based on its close association with the Roman Catholic Church. In Renaissance Italy, the Borgias (a family of Spanish heritage) did provide two popes. But at the same time, the family also produced a very colorful brother-sister team deeply embroiled in the cutthroat world of Italian politics. Strathern continues his investigation into powerful Italian clans, following The Medici (2016), with this equally engaging and informative history of a notorious family. To be immersed in this group biography is to visit a particularly exciting and consequential period in European history in all its high drama and richness of character. As Strathern works through the stories of the Borgias, readers learn that the major factor in their dominating personalities and lawless politics was not so much depravity as ambition. A magnet for all who are intrigued by this infamous clan and everyone looking for a new perspective in European history, this is an outstanding account.--Brad Hooper Copyright 2019 Booklist

Strathern's (The Medici: Power, Money and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance, 2016, etc.) latest venture into Renaissance Italy proves just as exciting as his previous histories.Rodrigo Borgia (1431-1503), his son, Cesare, and daughter, Lucretia, are the central characters, following in the footsteps of Rodrigo's uncle, Pope Callixtus III. Rodrigo was by all accounts rich, charming, and an excellent administrator, but he was also impious, avaricious, and cruel. Callixtus appointed him Vice Chancellor, giving him the power of the purse in the Vatican. He held that post through multiple papacies until he became Pope Alexander VI in 1492. He had one ambition: to unify Italy under a Borgia hereditary papacy centered in Rome. Cesare was groomed to take his place, first as a cardinal and then as head of the Papal Forces. Alexander's diplomatic machinations and Cesare's brash but effective soldiering made that a possibility. Alexander's diplomacy came down to being friendly to both Spanish and French forces as they fought over Naples and supporting Venetian, Florentine, and Siennese governments while undermining everyone else. Rodrigo even married Cesare to a woman raised at the French court of Louis XII. With Louis' help and the Papal Forces, Cesare managed to take almost all the Romagna under his protection. Strathern points to an "inappropriate closeness" in the family. Rodrigo trusted Lucretia above everyone; he not only put her in charge of a province, but also let her administer the papacy in his absence. Cesare's manic jealousy of Lucretia was powerful, and rumors of his siring of her child and murders of her lover and husband complete that picture of a dangerous man. One of the author's great strengths has always been his ability to keep the many assorted players from confusing readers, and that holds true in his latest.Strathern's smooth narrative and comprehensive insight bring the Borgias to life for scholars and amateurs alike. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.