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Tietoja tekijästä

Image credit: Bartolomeo Veneto.

Tekijän teokset

Associated Works

Love Letters (1996) — Avustaja — 181 kappaletta
Lucrezia Borgia (1970) — Associated Name — 3 kappaletta

Merkitty avainsanalla

Yleistieto

Syntymäaika
1480-04-18
Kuolinaika
1519-06-24
Hautapaikka
Monastero del Corpus Domini, Ferrara
Sukupuoli
female
Kansalaisuus
Italy
Syntymäpaikka
Rome, Italy
Kuolinpaikka
Ferrara, Italy
Asuinpaikat
Rome, Italy
Ferrara, Italy
Nepi, Italy
Ammatit
aristocrat
letter writer
Suhteet
Bembo, Pietro (friend, correspondent)
Lyhyt elämäkerta
Lucrezia was the daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Spanish-born church official who later became Pope Alexander VI. Cesare Borgia was her brother. Although the Borgias came to epitomize ruthless politics, Vatican corruption, and sexual debauchery, many historians believe that Lucrezia was a pawn of her relatives in her early life. After she married Alfonso d'Este, future Duke of Ferrara, she became a respected figure in the duchy of Ferrara. She died in childbirth in 1519. She continues to fascinate and has inspired many works of literature, opera, film, and television. Several paintings are said to depict her, but none are fully accepted by scholars.

Jäseniä

Kirja-arvosteluja

These letters are adulatory, emotionally effusive, poetic. One wonders what Bembo's motives were. Was he fishing for court favors from the duchess? Or were these two really soul mates, as they claimed to be? On page 41, the editor says that "she made use of Bembo to expedite her interests." Were they using each other? In Letter XXX he asks her to give him a job. Is there genuine passion in these letters or only obligatory hyperbole? Is this true love or only self-serving flattery?

Lord Byron apparently believed in the sincerity of their motives. It was he who praised the letters as "the prettiest" in the world. But humorist Will Cuppy had doubts, noting that her poet friends tended to show up at mealtimes.

In any case, this book is an up-close and personal glimpse into Renaissance Italy. The preface of thirty-eight pages is an excellent introduction to the letters. Artfully illustrated.
… (lisätietoja)
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
pjsullivan | Aug 22, 2011 |

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Arvio (tähdet)
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ISBN:t
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