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Rise and Fall of the Borgias
- Narrated by: William Landon
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
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Rise and Fall of the Borgias
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Summary
Since its rise to the highest ranks of power in Renaissance Europe, the Borgia family has developed a scandalous reputation. While they were indeed ostentatious, calculating, worldly, cruel—and even, occasionally, murderous—listeners may be surprised to find that the Borgias were not terribly different from other powerful and ambitious families of their day. So why has history set them apart as one of the most corrupt and reviled families in history?
In the Rise and Fall of the Borgias, listeners will spend 10 revealing lectures untangling the web of rumors, speculation, and historical embellishment from what is actually known about the infamous Roman family. With Dr. William Landon, listeners will explore the historical context that helped the Borgias make their fortune and better understand how they could be both magnanimous and ruthless, pious and morally suspect.
The story of the Borgias is rich with intrigue, even without the fictional enhancement it has received from the numerous films, novels, and television shows that have been created based on the family’s notoriety. Dr. Landon introduces listeners to the major players and lays bare their machinations to reach the highest offices of church and state. Were their exploits as salacious as listeners have been led to believe? Did they manipulate the papacy for their own gain? Are the rumors of incest, bribery, political assassinations, and other morally questionable behaviors true or the stuff of historical gossip?
As listeners explore these and other rumors surrounding the Borgias, they will pull back the curtain on the historian’s craft and see how the story of this Renaissance dynasty has been shaped over time and how new research and a healthy dose of skepticism has allowed us to get a little closer to the truth—without losing any of the drama.
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What listeners say about Rise and Fall of the Borgias
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- SloshyDolphin
- 22-11-21
As always something that makes you think
There was a bit of context that i missed as this is not an era i know a huge amount about but the story is detailed. although not overly so and helps to put the Borgias into context and to look at why are consider them such an evil perverse family. The Professor goes through where the information comes from and we end with a story of a powerful corrupt group of men who were probably just as bad as everyone else but maybe a bit better at it.
Well worth a listen
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 15-01-22
Fascinating
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Fascinating insight into the Borgias and their lives. Told in straightforward language it was easy to listen to.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Graham Balmforth
- 24-07-23
Excellent work
Balanced and well researched account, historically revealing but also entertaining. I would recommend to any student of renaissance Italy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Walmsley Family
- 16-04-22
Great listening
I am a fan of stories of the Borgias and this lecture gave me new insights.
It was brilliant and I am now going to listen to his one on the Medici family.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Todd
- 01-10-21
Excellent
I really enjoyed this lecture series. If you are a fan of history then this is worth checking out.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mike Bingham
- 31-07-20
excellent....<br />
thoroughly enjoyed listening to Rise and Fall of the Borgia's.....excellent listening it had me hooked throughout and full of interesting information...superbly written and narrated by William Landon......my first listening in "lecture" form but it won't be my last...would highly recommend.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Solilique
- 28-04-22
Compelling
A refreshing account, concise and well structured, setting straight the lives of this infamous family. The craft employed by the writer is displayed well through the way in which he leads the listener through the original source material separating the rumors from the reality.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Gayle Taylor
- 17-08-22
A History of The Borgias
I enjoyed listening to this run of history for the famous Borgia family. It debunks many of the myths and clears up the facts that can be proven.
As it turns out they were a normal family of the time of status. They were slandered by those who didn't like them.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- A. Moore
- 06-08-21
excellent series
informative, clear and well read overview. recommended. places the Borgias in context and skilfully redresses many later injustices.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Norma Miles
- 06-11-22
"Ten lectures.."
A well researched look at the known facts and rumours surrounding the Borgias, mostly from the last three decades of the fifteenth century into the early years of the sixteenth, and lately concentrating on
Rodrigo, Cezere and Lucretia. Whilst very interesting, it is best suited to readers who already know a reasonable background to the characters as there is not only a fairly complex list of people, some with more than one title, and places to absorb, but also there is no chronological order to the lecture content, nor, it would seem, a coherent pursuit of a theme other than to show that, whilst condemned for their actions, the Borgia reputation was mostly attributed by rumours created by those enemies who hated or envied them and they were really not !such different from anyone else of their time.
It is an interesting glimpse into their time, however, and the narrator/ lecturer has a pleasant voice, well balanced. The Rise and Fall of the Borgias is currently available to read free of charge as a download from the Audible Plus programme. Well worth reading for anyone with an interest in the period, but best not digested one gulp. Better to consume it with breaks , even if short ones, between text chapters.
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