Lucrezia Borgia - an infamous murderess or simply the victim of bad press? Lucrezia Borgia's name has echoed through history as a byword for evil - a poisoner who committed incest with her natural father, Pope Alexander VI, and with her brother, Cesare Borgia. Long considered the most ruthless of Italian Renaissance noblewomen, her tarnished reputation has prevailed long since her own lifetime. In this definitive biography, a work of huge scholarship and erudition, Sarah Bradford gives a fascinating account of Lucrezia's life in all its colourful controversy. Daughter, sister, wife and mother, Lucrezia Borgia was surrounded by wealth, privilege and intrigue. But what was the truth behind her extraordinary existence - was she a monster of cruelty and deceit, or simply the pawn of her power-hungry father and brother?

About the Author

Sarah Bradford is an historian and biographer. Previous books include biographies of Disraeli, winner of the New York Times Book of the Year; George VI; Elizabeth II and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (2001). She lives in London.

Reviews

Bradford's zest for this era is contagious. ("USA Today") A lively view of Lucrezia, capturing the glamour and tragedy of her story. ("The Wall Street Journal") This is also a tender and intimate account of a misunderstood and passionate woman. ("Elle")