The Borgias and Their Enemies:1431-1519 - Christopher Hibbert Audiobook

Written by Christopher Hibbert
Read by John Telfer
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Release date: February 1, 2012
Duration: 09:24:04

The first major biography of the Borgias in thirty years, Christopher Hibbert’s latest history brings to life the family and the world they lived in: the glittering Rome of the Italian Renaissance. Hibbert focuses on three members of the notorious Borgia family of Spain,

The name Borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in Renaissance Italy. The powerful, voracious Rodrigo Borgia, better known to history as Pope Alexander VI, was the central figure of the dynasty. Two of his seven papal offspring also rose to power and fame—his daughter Lucrezia and her brother Cesare, who murdered Lucrezia’s husband and served as the model for Machiavelli’s The Prince. The Borgias were notorious for seizing power, wealth, land, and titles through bribery, marriage, and murder. The story of the family’s dramatic rise from its Spanish roots to the highest position in Italian society is an absorbing tale.

Those who listen to this history may find themselves rethinking their ideas about religion and the Roman Catholic Church. The author recounts the exploits of the notorious crime family headed by Rodrigo Borgia, also known as Pope Alexander VI. Their savagery and ambition knew no bounds. John Telfer tells their story with frightening clarity. It could be argued that the Borgias were a product of their time, but they seem to be too evil, or too insane, even for the era of the Italian Renaissance. The infamous Lucrezia Borgia, whom history has branded a cold-hearted killer, herein comes off the most innocent. Telfer manages to imbue the characters with humanity despite their flaws. M.S. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine