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Audiobooks > Biography & Autobiography >  Historical > Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy
Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy Audiobook, by Sarah Bradford Play Audiobook Sample

Download Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy Audiobook

3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 (3.00) - 1,002 customer ratings
Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy Audiobook, by Sarah Bradford Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Sarah Bradford Narrator: Lorna Raver Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Audio Length: Release Date: January 2009 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9781483066271
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Publisher Description

The very name Lucrezia Borgia conjures up everything that was sinister and corrupt about the Renaissance: incest, political assassination, papal sexual abuse, poisonous intrigue, unscrupulous power grabs. Yet, as bestselling biographer Sarah Bradford reveals in this breathtaking portrait, the truth is far more fascinating than the myth. Neither a vicious monster nor a seductive pawn, Lucrezia Borgia was a shrewd, determined woman who used her beauty and intelligence to secure a key role in the political struggles of her day.

Drawing from a trove of contemporary documents and fascinating firsthand accounts, Bradford brings to life the art, the pageantry, and the dangerous politics of the Renaissance world Lucrezia Borgia helped to create.

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Quotes

  • “A lively view of Lucrezia, capturing the glamour and tragedy of her story.”

    - Wall Street Journal

  • “Bradford’s zest for this era is contagious…makes clear the practical intelligence that proved the foundation for Lucrezia’s remarkable life.”

    - USA Today

  • “The facts of Lucrezia’s case are sorted out from fiction by Bradford’s humanizing biography…Bradford’s readable biography resoundingly succeeds.”

    - Publishers Weekly

  • “What all biographies should aspire to be: meticulously researched and exquisitely written…A tender and intimate account of a misunderstood and passionate woman.”

    - Elle

  • “[A] biography that neither condemns nor exonerates the life of the notorious Renaissance femme fatale…A fascinating account of the true-life woman behind the Machiavellian legend.”

    - Midwest Book Review

  • “This compelling biography is irresistibly interwoven with plenty of period gossip, sex, and intrigue.”

    - Booklist (starred review)

  • “The listener is lucky to be in the capable hands of a great narrator to sort through the wealth of information and dense historical details of Renaissance Italy. Forget the titillating rumors you’ve heard about the Borgia family—the truth is far worse!…Yet Lucrezia still shines as a strong-willed, compassionate woman who bucked the odds, and with her brains and charm wove her way through one land mine after another to be happy and successful in her own right. Lorner Raver’s calm delivery is ideal as she guides the listener through one of the darkest times in history.”

    - AudioFile

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Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " An excellent biography of one of history's most villified women. Lucrezia Borgia's name is synonymous with incest, murder and corruption, yet the evidence shows that in fact she was a pawn of her father Pope Alexander VI and brother Cesar's ruthless ambition. "

    - Georgina, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Still working on this one. I really want to become engrossed in this book, but I'm having a really hard time. There are so many people being discussed (at about 50 pages in, I haven't read much about Lucrezia herself), and it's very difficult to keep straight who is who, which makes it difficult for me to really care. This has several good reviews on here that have convinced me to not give completely up on it yet, but there are just as many reviews that concur with my opinions on the dryness and large scope of the text. So I'm not giving up, but I'm also not sure that I'll be able to finish. It feels like homework that I've assigned myself, and I haven't felt like I was doing homework in a long time. "

    - Miranda, 1/30/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Sorry to say, but this book is a total pile-on of confusing names, dates and setups that still have not delivered for me 1/3 of the way in. This one was a hard slog and I give up. This book needed a better editor, who should of told Ms. brdford to stop packing so much in .... I mean just read here acknowlegment page with out your eyes going cross. I think good history should put things into context and tell a compelling story, give possible insights and illuminate the past. Also a book on Lucezia Borgia should cast the main character center stage or at least partly, this book failed to do this for me. Can any one suggest another book on Lucrezia Borgia that is factual, coherent and keeps your interest? "

    - Mark, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I really wanted to like this book, and I know this isn't fair, but it was so boring!! It was well researched and I love the idea of trying to correct how villainous lucrezia's reputation has become throughout history but the writing style is so dry. "

    - Jody, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I picked it up because I don't know a lot, and am interested in the Borgias. Overall, I found the book very clinical. I had a hard time getting through it. Overall, I'd say skip this book unless you're interested in Lucretia Borgia and the political aspects of her life. "

    - Kati, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Starts off as a cracking good read. I read this in Venice on our last trip to Italy and unfortunately the story started to sag in the last 3rd. Still, well worth reading to get a good introduction to the Borgias and Renaissance Italy from a very different angle. "

    - Kevin, 1/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Really dry, not intended as narrative non-fic "

    - Julie, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Interesting and well-researched book; I only gave it three stars because it is somewhat disjointed. "

    - Jpekich, 11/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Y otro de mi Lucrecia Borgia pero con una de mis autoras preferidas. "

    - China, 10/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, LIVING IN A HARD TIME. INDEPTH STUDY OF LUCREZIA WITH WORDS AND PICTURES. MADE ME FEEL SAD FOR HER. WORHT READING. HIGHLY RECOMMEND "

    - Carol, 9/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Brilliant work about one of history's most vilely slandered women. Recommended. "

    - Chris, 9/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " History, history, history with panache!!!!!!! "

    - Ron, 6/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Too academic. Have up after chapter 2. "

    - Britta, 2/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Even for me, this book got a little in the weeds on the mundane details of life at the time. But it was still interesting. "

    - Blair, 1/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A little wordy but very interesting "

    - Eileen, 7/18/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Bartolomeo di Veneto's portrait of Lucrezia Borgia is the first alarming clue that you're about to embark on a journey into the life of an extraordinary woman. Slightly more academic than Michael Ennis' Duchess of Milan, Sarah Bradford's account of the Duchess of Ferarra is a captivating book. "

    - Monica, 4/11/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Hello book, because of many undistinguishable Borgias and many titles I had to give up. I cannot take it anymore. Please accept my apology. "

    - Saikhnaa, 10/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Makes watching "The Borgias" on TV more interesting. Was she a victim or was she really bad? "

    - Judy, 8/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Ok, I didn't actually finish it; I got bored and skimmed. I like biographies generally but this one was a little too dry for my taste. Might be because there isn't much reliable info on the subject, but I don't know. Maybe I'll go back to it at some point... "

    - Abigail, 7/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Too boring to be able to finish. It reads more like a textbook. "

    - Jeanne, 4/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " History, history, history with panache!!!!!!! "

    - Ron, 2/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Ok, I didn't actually finish it; I got bored and skimmed. I like biographies generally but this one was a little too dry for my taste. Might be because there isn't much reliable info on the subject, but I don't know. Maybe I'll go back to it at some point... "

    - Abigail, 2/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Makes watching "The Borgias" on TV more interesting. Was she a victim or was she really bad? "

    - Judy, 1/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Starts off as a cracking good read. I read this in Venice on our last trip to Italy and unfortunately the story started to sag in the last 3rd. Still, well worth reading to get a good introduction to the Borgias and Renaissance Italy from a very different angle. "

    - Kevin, 1/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I listened to this book on tape. I was expecting a historical romance, but it was really a summary of research on Lucrezia. Since I knew very little about her, I learned something of her life -- and a bit more about how people lived at that time. "

    - Jennifer, 12/16/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Certainly a different look at Lucrezia, which mad it all the more interesting. "

    - Sydnie, 9/20/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " OH MY! What a tangled, perverted web these sinister well-to-do's create! I have to say, as titillating as it was, I couldn't help but enjoy this tidbit of history. "

    - L., 6/21/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Slow read due to dates and numerous characters. Learned some history! "

    - Nadine, 11/11/2009

About the Author

Sarah Bradford is the bestselling author of America’s Queen: The Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Disraeli (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year), George VI, Princess Grace, and Elizabeth. She has published two previous accounts of the Borgia family, including a biography of Cesare Borgia. She makes her home in London.

About the Narrator

Lorna Raver, named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year, has received numerous Audie Award nominations and many AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has appeared on stage in New York, Los Angeles, and regional theaters around the country. Among her many television credits are NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Boston Legal, ER, and Star Trek. She starred in director Sam Raimi’s film Drag Me to Hell.