The Borgias: Power and Fortune
Paul Strathen’s work, The Borgias: Power and Fortune, does an excellent job covering the Borgia period without becoming bogged down in myth and legend. The problem with many books on the Borgias is that they try too often to fulfill the Borgia myth: depraved poisoners who practiced murder and incest at unprecedented levels. While there might be grains of truth to these rumors, Strathen does well to avoid becoming overly involved in speculation. The book is well-written and accessible to most fans of history. My only criticism is that there are times when it becomes very focused on local politics. It could have used a few extra maps at times to understand the story. But, other than that, an excellent introduction to the Borgias.
Score: 4.5/5