Lucretia Borgia by the great German historian Ferdinand Gregorovius is a documentary biography of the famous daughter of Pope Alexander VI and sister of Cesare Borgia. Drawing on original documents and the correspondence of her own day, Gregorovius separates the historical woman from the lurid legends of poison and scandal that have surrounded her name.
The result is a sympathetic and scholarly portrait of a Renaissance noblewoman who became Duchess of Ferrara and a patron of art and letters. The book moves through the courts of Rome and northern Italy, illuminating the role of women in dynastic politics. This free EPUB download presents the complete English translation.