Trying another book about Lucrezia, but Rachel’s just as bad as Sarah is. This one is Lucrezia Borgia: A Biography by Rachel Erlanger. Published in the 70’s, I think. Yes. Late 70’s–1978. Apparently, this Lucrezia can do no wrong either. In all fairness, I haven’t finished Sarah’s biography, so she may turn on our blond beauty yet, but it is interesting to see how Rachel just completely dismisses the very idea that Lucrezia had anything to do with sexual escapades and raunchy parties. Lucrezia was a modest, intelligent, long-suffering young girl who was at the whim of her powerful father, just like every other woman in the Renaissance. Really? She was the daughter of a somewhat pope, was brought up surrounded by mass amounts of money and power, and didn’t have a simpering clue on how to get what she wanted and manipulate situations? I don’t know. This Burchard guy–chancellor or secretary or something at the Vatican–has a daily diary where he writes down all the horrible things that the Borgias do, and he readily admits that he didn’t attend the parties and clearly has it out for them… It seems to be the main source for all the accusations against the family, but really… The stories had to come from somewhere. She can’t be all that pure and innocent. I just don’t believe it. But it’s fascinating to see how staunchly Rachel defends her. I’ll be interested to see how she deals with all the poisonings later. I’m only to the marriage to Alfonso d’Este right now…
Maybe I’m just too cynical. Perhaps someone brought up in those circumstances can avoid becoming just as corrupt as the others around her, but I seriously doubt it. Nor do I seriously doubt that she was as wonderful as poets and the people of Ferrara say she was. I’m sure she had her good moments. Everyone does. (Even Hitler had people who loved him, right?) But everyone has their bad moments, too. I guess that’s what frustrates me. I’m willing to admit that certain things about Lucrezia may have been misinterpreted, but she was still human and made human judgments and human mistakes… Perhaps this is a good lesson for me and my characters. I need to remember that they’re human, too and make them good and bad.