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E. R. Chamberlin
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The Fall of the House of Borgia (The Mad, Bad and Ugly of Italian History) Kindle Edition

by E.R. Chamberlin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 341 ratings
An enthralling history of the most notorious family of Renaissance Italy.

Perfect for readers of Paul Strathern, Alexander Lee and Ross King.

Did Rodrigo corruptly bribe his way to the papal throne to become Pope Alexander VI? Was Juan murdered by his brother Cesare in his pursuit for power? And was Lucrezia really involved in incestuous relationships?

Legends surround the Borgia family, but what was the truth behind it all?

E. R. Chamberlin’s masterful portrait of these extraordinary people separates fact from fiction and shines a dazzling light on Renaissance Italy.

Beginning with Rodrigo Borgia, Chamberlin charts this intelligent but ruthless man’s passage to the top. He uncovers how, as Pope Alexander VI, he directed his family to carve out a Borgia kingdom in the heart of Italy. The chaotic intrigues, alliances, and wars that Cesare and Lucrezia became embroiled with are exposed in fascinating detail as competing dynasties and cities struggled for survival before the family’s fortunes crumbled.

“By isolating unsubstantiated rumor, by viewing the more unsavory Borgia activities in the light of political realities of the time, and quietly including contemporary accounts from the more reliable sources, Chamberlin is able to illuminate the extraordinary power of the Borgias.” Kirkus Reviews

The Fall of the House of Borgia reveals the astounding brilliance of the Renaissance as well as ugly reality of Papal Rome. It should be essential reading for all looking for insight into the shadowy world of sixteenth century Italy and interested in finding out the truth of this remarkable family.
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  1. Part of series
    The Mad, Bad and Ugly of Italian History
  2. Print length
    346 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    February 13, 2022
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

E. R. Chamberlin is the author of The Bad Popes and Loot!: The Heritage of Plunder.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09LVGBYFC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books (February 13, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 13, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1800554133
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 341 ratings

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E. R. Chamberlin

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
341 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the historical accuracy and interesting content about the Borgia papacy and 16th century Italian politics. The visual quality is described as fair and vivid, creating vivid images in their minds as they read.

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ReadabilityHistorical accuracyInformation contentVisual quality
4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and entertaining. They say it's informative on historical topics.

"Well written and informative. Sheds light on the more darker side of the history of the family Borgia. Take the time to enjoy." Read more

"...down exciting but for the most part appears to be a fair rendering, well written, informative on a historical level and, most importantly to me,..." Read more

"Not the best book on the Borgias I ever read,, but still worthwhile reading. More emphasis on the military exploits than the family itself." Read more

"Awesome read!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Historical accuracy"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the well-written historical account of the Borgia papacy and 16th-century Italian politics.

"...most part appears to be a fair rendering, well written, informative on a historical level and, most importantly to me, emphasizes the character of..." Read more

"History is anything but dull here: this chapter of Italy's tumultuous past comes alive so vividly that I found it hard to put down...." Read more

"Nicely written, informative. Very interesting history of the Borgia papacy, as well as the 16th century Italian politics,and the papal stated." Read more

3 customers mention "Information content"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and eye-opening. They say it's well-written and fact-filled.

"...Such an intense, fact filled book. Kudos to E.R. Chamberlin for putting this together...." Read more

"Well written and informative. Sheds light on the more darker side of the history of the family Borgia. Take the time to enjoy." Read more

"Nicely written, informative. Very interesting history of the Borgia papacy, as well as the 16th century Italian politics,and the papal stated." Read more

3 customers mention "Visual quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They find it informative and well-written, with a fair rendering of the people and events. The author creates vivid images in their minds as they read, making the tumultuous past of Italy come alive vividly.

"...The author did a splendid job of creating the images in my mind as I was reading. Such an intense, fact filled book...." Read more

"...can't-put-it-down exciting but for the most part appears to be a fair rendering, well written, informative on a historical level and, most..." Read more

"...but dull here: this chapter of Italy's tumultuous past comes alive so vividly that I found it hard to put down...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Ozzyfied1124
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book reveals so much about the infamous Borgia family that I never knew. I read a couple of other books on this family as I am very much interested in the Renaissance period, and especially of Italian Renaissance. The author did a splendid job of creating the images in my mind as I was reading. Such an intense, fact filled book. Kudos to E.R. Chamberlin for putting this together.

    If anyone is interested in this infamous family and in the Renaissance period of Italy, this is a must read!

    The show on Showtime is a joke, as it changed everything that supposedly happened according to manuscripts of the time. The only great thing about the show is gorgeous Francois Armand that played Ceserae.

    Thank you for such an eye-opening book. I recommend it highly.
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  • Markeytalk
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Borgia's were diabolical
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The Borgia's were so evil and were actually in charge of the Roman Catholic Church which made them one of the original stories of scum bags in power of a major organization. Don't believe me? Then read the book. You won't put it down except for meals.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Reading
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and informative. Sheds light on the more darker side of the history of the family Borgia. Take the time to enjoy.
    One person found this helpful
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  • C. Palmer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not really what it says
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2022
    Though this book is called the Fall of the House of Borgia, it spends little time discussing the fall and more discussing the rise and the apogee. The book begins with the first Borgia pope and ends with a summary of the descendants into the first and second generations, giving little time to why the Borgias fell and the fallout.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Denise P.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Balanced portrait of an unbalanced family
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    My interest piqued in The Borgia after watching the first season of the Showtime series (I found they took some rather large historical liberties - it's TV - but was very entertaining and the people are pretty). This book isn't can't-put-it-down exciting but for the most part appears to be a fair rendering, well written, informative on a historical level and, most importantly to me, emphasizes the character of the individuals as well as the family dynamics of this incredibly interesting, albeit mysterious, family. If it's entertainment you want, buy one of the Borgia novels or watch Showtime. This book has whetted my interest in this family and the others who ruled, murdered, fought, loved in Italy during the Renaissance era: Medici!, Machiavelli! Orsini! Da Vinci! I've ordered several more books on the Borgia and the time period and so I will be back. I think this book is an excellent place to start. It has made me hungry for more. The author may have been a tad too kind to these villains or perhaps reticent to buy into the rumor mill that worked overtime during the period. Can we ever know definitively if Cesare murdered his brother Juan? Will we ever know if Alexander had an incentuous relationship with Lucrezia? My search continues. Stay tuned.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • pianoman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lively
    Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    History is anything but dull here: this chapter of Italy's tumultuous past comes alive so vividly that I found it hard to put down. It may help that the characters were so colorful in real life and the situations so dramatic, but without the enthusiasm and storytelling skills of E. R. Chamberlin, this could have been a dry tome or, worse yet, just another melodramatic 'bodice-ripper'. Instead we are treated to a family saga of epic proportions which, because it is rooted so firmly in scholarship, is able to allow us a great view of real human beings in the act of making real world history.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Not the best book on the Borgias I ever read,, but still worthwhile reading. More emphasis on the military exploits than the family itself.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars More Than a Beautiful Cover
    Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2022
    I have studied the Renissance, and the artwork was a major considerationin for the time period, it’s families like the House of Medic and the House of Borgia. The book, “The Fall of The House of Borgia” foused on Pope Alexander VI better known as Rodrigo Lanzo Borgia’s and his offspring.
    I’ve always been a fan of Ross King and Andrew Graham-Dixon books, so I looked forward to reading E.R, Chamberlain’s book and I was pleased that the writing was similar to my favorite authors, plus I enjoy this type of writing, especially when the authors writes a book that is nonfiction genre that reads more like a fictional novel.
    Because of the Showtime's series, most viewers believed that the program portrayed the actual history of the Borgia family. The Pope’s children were illegitimate, yet the Pope managed to gain status for his offspring and through their spousal choices, and he managed to line the family coffers.
    I found the book interesting and quite pleasant to read.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Philip Meers
    4.0 out of 5 stars More accurately "The Fall of Cesare Borgia"
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A very readable account of the story of one of history's dysfunctional families. It is well written. Although written in 1974, it is still a relevant overview of the topic.

    I gave it 4* because I do feel that the ending of the book did not match the title. More accurately, it is the fall of Cesare Borgia rather than the House of Borgia. Already knowing some of their history, I learned a lot, but my knowledge also showed that Lucretzia particularly was badly dealt with. Her life, after the death of her father, was glossed over in a few sentences. Yet, she was a Borgia success story. I realise that it would take a complete book to do her justice, but an extra chapter on this book would have been useful, examining how she redeemed herself, becoming a popular and well loved person in Ferrara.

    Despite the shortcomings, it is a book that I'd recommend.
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  • Deirdre E Siegel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Borgia behaving badly
    Reviewed in Australia on December 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The fascinating history of the Borgia in Renaissance Italy from the erudite mind of ER Chamberlain, where everything swept under the rug is brought to light for our enlightenment. :-)
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  • Pauline S
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and well researched
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The Borgias had a terrible reputation, but how much was fact and how much fiction is partly put to rest here. No doubt they were scheming, ruthless despots with nearly a religious bone between them. But then most popes of the renaissance ages were elected on the basis of outright bribery , promises of threats rather than religious piety. But were they also guilty of the unnatural sin of incest? I doubt anybody will ever know. The book is meticulously researched but highly readable.
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  • sandra brickley
    3.0 out of 5 stars Kindle book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Hard reading
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