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A review by wyntrchylde
The Borgias: Power and Fortune by Paul Strathern
3.0
The Borgias: The Power and The Fortune
Author: Paul Strathern
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publishing Date: 2019
Pgs: 383
Dewey: 945.060922 BOR
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
_________________________________________________
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
Saints, Popes, Princes, and Poisoners. Corruption. Incest. Megalomania. Avarice. Cruelty. Divine destiny. Religious charlatanism. Money. Power. Art. The Italian Renaissance.
The Borgias were a paradox. A prideful horror visited upon Italy, but at the same time, a bon to the artistic soul of the Renaissance. As much power as they had, they always wanted more.
This is the story of their hubris and rivalries, their treachery, their fates and downfalls.
Glorious and infamous.
_________________________________________________
Genre:
History
Italy
Biographies
Popes
Renaissance
Why this book:
Fascination with history.
_________________________________________________
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
The mistake Pope Alexander VI made regarding the Americas was very out of character. While attempting to insure Spanish domination of the New World he drew a line on a map, not realizing that his line bisected South America, thus giving the Portugese Brazil.
After Alexander VI death, Cesare spent much of the balance of his life in prison. How could this man have trusted Julius II, a lifelong enemy? Maybe the syphillis was affecting his brain.
Favorite Scene / Quote/Concept:
“...There was much more to the Borgias than mere self-aggrandizement and corrupt hedonism. They would stop at nothing. The main driving power behind the family was ambition. No considerations of morality or loyaltywould be allowed to stand in their way.” The author is talking about the Borgias but could just as easily be America’s current royal family. Though there is a lot more stupidity falling in a pile of shit coming out smelling like roses on the Trump’s part.
Gosh...you mean Louis XII of France didn’t trust the Borgias? I’m shocked.
Hmm Moments:
Machiavelli’s maxim “Virtu’ e Fortuna” can be interpreted in many way.s I talke Virtu as being virility or force or power in teh sense of taking or stealing or dominating and Fortuna equaling opportunity. Hence in my interpretation what Machiavelli is saying about the Borgia’s grab for power is “fuck ‘em all.”
Did Pope Alexander VI of the Borgias ultimately fail to create himself and his progeny as dynastic rulers of Catholicism because he continued to look toward Ancient Greece and the Holy Land as a model instead of turning toward Spain and the New World aborning.
WTF Moments:
Pope Paul II died of an apoplexy, an apoplexy in this situation refers to gorging himselfr on melons and expiring from excessive sodomy by one of his favorites. Wow...just wow.
King Ferrante of Naples had a habit of mummifying his enemies and displaying them in a room in his castle. That is so fucked up.
Cesare Borgia was at least winkingly involved in the murder/poisoning of his brother Juan. And after so many machinations he not only took the fiefdom that formerly belonged to his brother, and was at least, one of his brother’s widow’s lovers. He, also, got his brother’s Defender of the Faith job in Rome, awarded by his father, despite being suspected.
Juxtaposition:
Alexander VI in trying to build power at the expense of everyone lead to balkanization of Italy long before that became a word. Without his interference, a united Italian kingdom could have, probably, come about apace with the unity of Spain. Ultimately, his goals were a united Italy under his and his heirs thumbs, along with the Church.
The Unexpected:
Not nearly enough blame falls on Pope Sixtus IV. He issued a papal bull that legitimized Portugese slave trading in western Africa, thus giving cover to centuries of the triangle trade and cultures of suffering.
_________________________________________________
Questions I’m Left With:
Was Lucretia being poisoned during her pregnancies after she married her third husband?
Author Assessment:
I would read more by this author.
_________________________________________________
Author: Paul Strathern
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publishing Date: 2019
Pgs: 383
Dewey: 945.060922 BOR
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
_________________________________________________
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
Saints, Popes, Princes, and Poisoners. Corruption. Incest. Megalomania. Avarice. Cruelty. Divine destiny. Religious charlatanism. Money. Power. Art. The Italian Renaissance.
The Borgias were a paradox. A prideful horror visited upon Italy, but at the same time, a bon to the artistic soul of the Renaissance. As much power as they had, they always wanted more.
This is the story of their hubris and rivalries, their treachery, their fates and downfalls.
Glorious and infamous.
_________________________________________________
Genre:
History
Italy
Biographies
Popes
Renaissance
Why this book:
Fascination with history.
_________________________________________________
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
The mistake Pope Alexander VI made regarding the Americas was very out of character. While attempting to insure Spanish domination of the New World he drew a line on a map, not realizing that his line bisected South America, thus giving the Portugese Brazil.
After Alexander VI death, Cesare spent much of the balance of his life in prison. How could this man have trusted Julius II, a lifelong enemy? Maybe the syphillis was affecting his brain.
Favorite Scene / Quote/Concept:
“...There was much more to the Borgias than mere self-aggrandizement and corrupt hedonism. They would stop at nothing. The main driving power behind the family was ambition. No considerations of morality or loyaltywould be allowed to stand in their way.” The author is talking about the Borgias but could just as easily be America’s current royal family. Though there is a lot more stupidity falling in a pile of shit coming out smelling like roses on the Trump’s part.
Gosh...you mean Louis XII of France didn’t trust the Borgias? I’m shocked.
Hmm Moments:
Machiavelli’s maxim “Virtu’ e Fortuna” can be interpreted in many way.s I talke Virtu as being virility or force or power in teh sense of taking or stealing or dominating and Fortuna equaling opportunity. Hence in my interpretation what Machiavelli is saying about the Borgia’s grab for power is “fuck ‘em all.”
Did Pope Alexander VI of the Borgias ultimately fail to create himself and his progeny as dynastic rulers of Catholicism because he continued to look toward Ancient Greece and the Holy Land as a model instead of turning toward Spain and the New World aborning.
WTF Moments:
Pope Paul II died of an apoplexy, an apoplexy in this situation refers to gorging himselfr on melons and expiring from excessive sodomy by one of his favorites. Wow...just wow.
King Ferrante of Naples had a habit of mummifying his enemies and displaying them in a room in his castle. That is so fucked up.
Cesare Borgia was at least winkingly involved in the murder/poisoning of his brother Juan. And after so many machinations he not only took the fiefdom that formerly belonged to his brother, and was at least, one of his brother’s widow’s lovers. He, also, got his brother’s Defender of the Faith job in Rome, awarded by his father, despite being suspected.
Juxtaposition:
Alexander VI in trying to build power at the expense of everyone lead to balkanization of Italy long before that became a word. Without his interference, a united Italian kingdom could have, probably, come about apace with the unity of Spain. Ultimately, his goals were a united Italy under his and his heirs thumbs, along with the Church.
The Unexpected:
Not nearly enough blame falls on Pope Sixtus IV. He issued a papal bull that legitimized Portugese slave trading in western Africa, thus giving cover to centuries of the triangle trade and cultures of suffering.
_________________________________________________
Questions I’m Left With:
Was Lucretia being poisoned during her pregnancies after she married her third husband?
Author Assessment:
I would read more by this author.
_________________________________________________