Lucretia Borgia According to Original Documents and Correspondence of Her Day

The author reconstructs the life of the woman at its center from archival documents and contemporary correspondence, tracing her upbringing in a powerful family, the elevation of her father to the papal throne, and her successive marriages and political roles. He follows her movements from Rome to Pesaro and Ferrara, placing allegations of poisoning, suspected killings, and family intrigue within the wider Italian political and cultural turmoil of the Renaissance, and examines how rumor, legend, and documentary evidence shaped her reputation. The narrative combines biography, diplomatic letters, facsimiles, and local description to reassess contested accusations and illuminate courtly life.