The story opens with Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia manipulating papal elections in 1492 to become the new Pope Alexander. For if we honour that commitment, we will never be vanquished – but if we falter in that loyalty, we will all be condemned.'īefore his death in 1999, Puzo (The Last Don) had begun work on a novel featuring the 15th-century Borgias, whom he regarded as 'the original crime family.' There are obvious parallels between the Borgias and the Corleone clan immortalized in The Godfather, but the resemblances are mostly superficial, at least as they are presented in this limp historical romance.

We must learn from each other, protect each other, and be bound first and foremost to each other. 'And the loyalty of the family must come before everything and everyone else. ' We are a family,' Alexander told his children. The Borgias face immense opposition from all quarters of Italy, but their deadliest foes may be far closer to home.Ī tale of brutality and betrayal that crowns Mario Puzo's remarkable career Scheming and plotting for their own ends are his children: Giovanni, the much-favoured golden boy his younger brother Cesare, jealous and vicious and Lucrezia, cunning, calculating and passionate. Headed by Rodrigo Borgia, better known as Pope Alexander VI, this tight-knit family is fighting to keep its iron grip on Italy – but theirs is a lethal game, and the cost of failure is surely death. But where there is gold – and power – there are those who are willing to do anything to get their hands on them.Įnter the Borgias. The Renaissance is in full swing, heralding a new golden age for Europe. From the legendary author of THE GODFATHER comes a novel of the original Italian crime familyįifteenth-century Italy.

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