Sarah Bradford (1) (1938–)

More like 2.5, but I grant 1/2 point for the research put into it. I learned much from this work, but it would have been considerably improved by having an index of characters. I simply had a hard time keeping track of all the players in the brief life of Cesare Borgia. He was hell-on-wheels ambitious for money and power, and really didn't care who he killed, cheated or trod on to get what he wanted. Like all rich people who believe that, because they are rich, nobody should reproach them for the wrongs they have done, Cesare simply couldn't understand why people hated him for past offences against them. As Machiavelli said, "Whoever believes that with great men [or women] new services wipe out old injuries deceives himself." If I didn't already know how crooked religions are, I would be shocked at the evil committed in the name of God by the Catholic Church and its Vatican. The Duke Cesare could get away with anything as long as his father (!) the Pope was in power. Just amazing.… (mere)