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Катерина Сфорца. Алената графиня
Херцог Галеацо, един от последните представители на миланската династия Сфорца, е оставил име на жесток и брутален владетел, баща на неясен брой деца от неясен брой майки. Но сред четата от отрочета Галеацо боготвори едно - извънбрачната си дъщеря Катерина. Отличаващо се с впечатляваща красота, наследило неговия пъргав ум, безстрашие и безцеремонност, момичето расте под специалните му грижи, получава солидно образование, учи военно дело и фехтовка наместо ръкоделие.
Мълвата за красотата на младата Сфорца стига до Рим и папа Сикст IV я иска за жена на сина си Джироламо, като дарява семейството с два града - Имола и Форли. Катерина влиза триумфално в Рим като графиня и започва бляскав живот.
Ала времената се менят, съпругът й бива убит и Катерина поема сама управлението на своите градове. А в тези времена управлението означава и войни. Младата графиня печели битка след битка, управлява с твърда ръка и в разрез с обществените порядки приема открито любовниците си.
Но папа вече е Александър VI, а неговият незаконен син Чезаре Борджия� държи върховенството над цялата военна мощ на Светата църква. То� не е забравил, че преди години красивата графиня го е отблъснала...
Вълнуващата история на една от най-знаменитите жени на италианското Възраждане, чиято страст и воля не знаят граници.
Мълвата за красотата на младата Сфорца стига до Рим и папа Сикст IV я иска за жена на сина си Джироламо, като дарява семейството с два града - Имола и Форли. Катерина влиза триумфално в Рим като графиня и започва бляскав живот.
Ала времената се менят, съпругът й бива убит и Катерина поема сама управлението на своите градове. А в тези времена управлението означава и войни. Младата графиня печели битка след битка, управлява с твърда ръка и в разрез с обществените порядки приема открито любовниците си.
Но папа вече е Александър VI, а неговият незаконен син Чезаре Борджия� държи върховенството над цялата военна мощ на Светата църква. То� не е забравил, че преди години красивата графиня го е отблъснала...
Вълнуващата история на една от най-знаменитите жени на италианското Възраждане, чиято страст и воля не знаят граници.
472 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2010
55 people are currently reading
4,403 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Kalogridis
17books800followersJeanne was born in Florida , and has been interested in books ever since. Her interest in language led her to earn an M.A. in Linguistics. She taught English as a Second Language for eight years at The American University of Washington, D.C., before retiring to write full time.
She now lives in California with an overly adored Labrador retriever. Her outside interests include yoga and reading everything ever published.
She now lives in California with an overly adored Labrador retriever. Her outside interests include yoga and reading everything ever published.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
November 15, 2010
Ehhh. I hate when you really want to like a book! 2 and 1/2 stars. This is the story of Caterina Sforza, the bravest warrior of the Renaissance. After reading where we were introduced to Caterina, I couldn't wait to begin to read her story. It started out interesting, even if the first half was about a fictional character her lady in waiting Dea. I started to wonder where the story of Caterina would begin. I see what the author was doing, but I would have rather read the story through the eyes of "true characters" not made up ones. This book should have been a page turner. Caterina's story is amazing! Instead the author focused on Dea and tarot "triumph cards" a secret society who reads stars and being promiscuous. I skimmed the last 100 pages just to get through it. This was an opportunity for a great book, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me.
August 11, 2010
Bestselling author Jeanne Kalogridis returns to Renaissance Italy in this vivid tale of one of the era's lesser known figures� the indomitable Caterina Sforza, illegitimate daughter of the duke of Milan, who married into the papal della Rovere family and ended up battling for her estates against the notorious Borgia.
Told through the eyes of Caterina's lady in waiting, Dea, the book sweeps the reader from the glamorous barbarism of the Sforza court to the vicious intrigues of Rome and insular savagery of rural Romagna. Dea is a strong narrator in her own right, her mysterious birth and determination to uncover the mystery behind her husband's murder propelling her into arcane magical knowledge linked to a secret society founded by the Medici. While at times the supernatural aspects of the story can feel forced, Ms Kalogridis more than compensates with her superb attention to details of the era and in her compelling depiction of the danger and ambition of a country broken into patchwork states, where families vying for power will do anything to ensure their success. Infamous Rodrigo Borgia, patriarch of the clan, strides across the stage as a magnetic master of seduction, terrifying in his resolve, and Caterina’s husband is a murderous giant with a weakness for gambling and appetite for mayhem. But in the end, the reader’s heart is captured by Caterina Sforza herself� a pampered, vain young girl married off to further Sforza influence in Rome, who grows into to a shrewd and calculating wife capable of intriguing with the best of the men and possessed of a ferocious carnal appetite, until finally becoming the warrior virago of legend, intent on protecting her children and her lands.
Ms Kalogridis has crafted a magnificent evocation of a tumultuous and complex era, where the ripple of silk hides the vial of poison, where the dagger in the sleeve was only a breath away, and where one bold woman dared to defy convention and live her life as she saw fit. Highly recommended!
Told through the eyes of Caterina's lady in waiting, Dea, the book sweeps the reader from the glamorous barbarism of the Sforza court to the vicious intrigues of Rome and insular savagery of rural Romagna. Dea is a strong narrator in her own right, her mysterious birth and determination to uncover the mystery behind her husband's murder propelling her into arcane magical knowledge linked to a secret society founded by the Medici. While at times the supernatural aspects of the story can feel forced, Ms Kalogridis more than compensates with her superb attention to details of the era and in her compelling depiction of the danger and ambition of a country broken into patchwork states, where families vying for power will do anything to ensure their success. Infamous Rodrigo Borgia, patriarch of the clan, strides across the stage as a magnetic master of seduction, terrifying in his resolve, and Caterina’s husband is a murderous giant with a weakness for gambling and appetite for mayhem. But in the end, the reader’s heart is captured by Caterina Sforza herself� a pampered, vain young girl married off to further Sforza influence in Rome, who grows into to a shrewd and calculating wife capable of intriguing with the best of the men and possessed of a ferocious carnal appetite, until finally becoming the warrior virago of legend, intent on protecting her children and her lands.
Ms Kalogridis has crafted a magnificent evocation of a tumultuous and complex era, where the ripple of silk hides the vial of poison, where the dagger in the sleeve was only a breath away, and where one bold woman dared to defy convention and live her life as she saw fit. Highly recommended!
August 2, 2012
I got about one-quarter through this book before admitting that I just wasn't enjoying it enough to finish.
I will take some of the responsibility for this being a miss, because I knew to some extent that the Sforzas of Milan weren't exactly humanitarians, but there wasn't a single character in this book I liked even a little bit. Virtually everyone in the story is selfish, mean, greedy and violent. And while I can cut them a little slack understanding how dog-eat-dog this period of history was, I just didn't want to spend anymore time with the characters because I was scowling or wincing at almost everything that happened.
The other thing that didn't work for me was the excessive amount of detail the author gives for EVERYTHING in the book. I don't mind some description, especially when it's important to the story, but this book gives minutely detailed descriptions of every room, every outfit, every meal, every horse, every road, etc. that every character goes in, wears, etc. It not only doesn't add to the story, in fact, for me it distracts and takes me out of the story.
This just wasn't the right book for me.
I will take some of the responsibility for this being a miss, because I knew to some extent that the Sforzas of Milan weren't exactly humanitarians, but there wasn't a single character in this book I liked even a little bit. Virtually everyone in the story is selfish, mean, greedy and violent. And while I can cut them a little slack understanding how dog-eat-dog this period of history was, I just didn't want to spend anymore time with the characters because I was scowling or wincing at almost everything that happened.
The other thing that didn't work for me was the excessive amount of detail the author gives for EVERYTHING in the book. I don't mind some description, especially when it's important to the story, but this book gives minutely detailed descriptions of every room, every outfit, every meal, every horse, every road, etc. that every character goes in, wears, etc. It not only doesn't add to the story, in fact, for me it distracts and takes me out of the story.
This just wasn't the right book for me.
November 23, 2012
Let me take a moment to observe, very gratefully, that this has got to be one of the most misleading book covers I've encountered in quite a while. Sing hosannah! When I got a proper look at it, I felt I'd made a dreadful mistake and ordered some ridiculous softcore porn "romance" novel that was only sort of about Caterina Sforza, badass military bee-hatch of the Italian Renaissance.
Whew! Especially since The Scarlet Contessa seemed to be the only novel -- indeed, the only book -- devoted to Sforza that I could find after wondering what the hell kind of possibly-just-anachronistic-but-wouldn't-it-be-awesome-if-not hot chick in armor riding with the "bad" guys Gina McKee was supposed to be in The Borgias.
For a lot of the novel, though, Caterina is barely present. Much in the way Diana Paxon's The White Raven told the legend of Tristan and Isolde/Iseult from the point of view of the princess' maidservant, The Scarlet Contessa is mostly about Caterina's lady-in-waiting, Dea, a woman of even more dubious origins than Caterina (Caterina was a Duke's bastard daughter, but Renaissance Italy didn't make as big a deal about that as some cultures. As might be expected of a place and a time in which a supposedly celebate Pope made his son the commander of the papal armies and stuff) and who has a preternatural gift for reading Tarot cards. Which means the first third of the book is pretty much a giant foreshadowing yawn fest.
I guess I should have taken our lady-in-waiting's name -- Dea means "goddess" I do believe -- as a warning. There isn't quite enough supernatural/magical claptrap to make this a fantasy novel, but it comes awfully close. Dea inherited her murdered mother's "gift" with the Tarot, which gift seems to involve her not only reading the cards but also projecting herself bodily into their images (i.e. almost getting hit by falling masonry from the Tower card, which comes up over and over to make sure we Get It). In addition, Dea performs rituals to "find her angel" in the best New Agey bulldada tradition. This goes on for ages and pages until the non-New Age reader wants to Throw Up.
And of course everything Dea's Tarot cards predict Comes True. Quite literally. So, e.g., when the Two of Cups turns up in a reading, the promised lover shows up with a gift of two golden goblets. And of course Caterina -- remember, this is sort of supposed to maybe be a novel about Caterina? -- here presented as the most spoiled young woman ever, must have Dea by her side at all times so she can get a reading whenever she wishes. Huh what?
In the "further reading" section at the end of this book is a short -- unpardonably short! -- list of books that contain more information about the Lady of Forli, none of which are recent at all and so are most likely out of print. Sing hosannah I live in the Age of the Internet and can track down copies of those with relative ease, because if there's one thing I want to do after reading this book, it's read a better book about this fascinating woman.
I wish Jean Plaidy had written about her.
Whew! Especially since The Scarlet Contessa seemed to be the only novel -- indeed, the only book -- devoted to Sforza that I could find after wondering what the hell kind of possibly-just-anachronistic-but-wouldn't-it-be-awesome-if-not hot chick in armor riding with the "bad" guys Gina McKee was supposed to be in The Borgias.
For a lot of the novel, though, Caterina is barely present. Much in the way Diana Paxon's The White Raven told the legend of Tristan and Isolde/Iseult from the point of view of the princess' maidservant, The Scarlet Contessa is mostly about Caterina's lady-in-waiting, Dea, a woman of even more dubious origins than Caterina (Caterina was a Duke's bastard daughter, but Renaissance Italy didn't make as big a deal about that as some cultures. As might be expected of a place and a time in which a supposedly celebate Pope made his son the commander of the papal armies and stuff) and who has a preternatural gift for reading Tarot cards. Which means the first third of the book is pretty much a giant foreshadowing yawn fest.
I guess I should have taken our lady-in-waiting's name -- Dea means "goddess" I do believe -- as a warning. There isn't quite enough supernatural/magical claptrap to make this a fantasy novel, but it comes awfully close. Dea inherited her murdered mother's "gift" with the Tarot, which gift seems to involve her not only reading the cards but also projecting herself bodily into their images (i.e. almost getting hit by falling masonry from the Tower card, which comes up over and over to make sure we Get It). In addition, Dea performs rituals to "find her angel" in the best New Agey bulldada tradition. This goes on for ages and pages until the non-New Age reader wants to Throw Up.
And of course everything Dea's Tarot cards predict Comes True. Quite literally. So, e.g., when the Two of Cups turns up in a reading, the promised lover shows up with a gift of two golden goblets. And of course Caterina -- remember, this is sort of supposed to maybe be a novel about Caterina? -- here presented as the most spoiled young woman ever, must have Dea by her side at all times so she can get a reading whenever she wishes. Huh what?
In the "further reading" section at the end of this book is a short -- unpardonably short! -- list of books that contain more information about the Lady of Forli, none of which are recent at all and so are most likely out of print. Sing hosannah I live in the Age of the Internet and can track down copies of those with relative ease, because if there's one thing I want to do after reading this book, it's read a better book about this fascinating woman.
I wish Jean Plaidy had written about her.
April 21, 2017
"Катерина Сфорца" е разказ за интересния живот на една смела смела и забележителна жена. Катерина е незаконна дъщеря на миланския херцог Галеацо Сфорца. Красотата й привлича погледа на папа Сикст IV и той я иска за жена на племенника си Джироламо Риарио делла Ровере.
Катерина влиза триумфално в Рим и това е повратен момент в живота й, тя става част от борбата за власт.
Катерина влиза триумфално в Рим и това е повратен момент в живота й, тя става част от борбата за власт.
May 8, 2014
«Um irresistível romance histórico da Renascença Italiana.
Este livro tem dois pontos de incontornável interesse, Catarina Sforza uma figura impar e os Borgia.
Catarina Sforza «famosa por sua audácia no amor e na guerra», dominava ambas as artes! Com um apurado sentido prático, uma perspicácia politica e militar que sobressaia e a destacava. Era adorada por uns e temida por outros.
Esta é a época dos Borgia, a incontornável família espanhola/italiana da renascença italiana, que conseguiu “produzir� 3 papas. Uma família onde o sexo, a corrupção, incesto, adultério e assassinatos (preferencialmente por envenenamento) alimentavam e conduziam a ganância pelo poder. Esta carga sombria que envolvia a família é também um dos grandes apelativos da mesma, dando origem a uma famosa série televisiva com o nome “The Borgias�.
Narrada pela dama de companhia (e irmã adoptiva) de Catarina Sforza, Dea, esta história ganha cor nas suas palavras e anseios, na Fortaleza de Ravaldino, quando estão a ser atacadas. E através de um “flasback� ganhamos a percepção de toda a história e o que as levou até ali.
A descrição das personagens é um verdadeiro deleite, são descrições coloridas e breves.
«Está nua, e a luz impregna a sua pele branca de um brilho quente, como se tivesse mergulhada em mel (...)»
Gostava de realçar também o detalhe oportuno e não muito extenso com que somos brindados ao longo deste livro. A autora detêm a minúcia e o talento que nos permite transportar para o século XV.
Não pude deixar de reparar na atenção peculiar dada ao nariz de muitas das personagens, que de uma forma “definitiva� decretam a beleza, ou a falta dela, de uma personagem.
Catarina é uma mulher, cujo crescimento acompanhamos pelos olhos de Dea, através de confidências, diálogos e de ter testemunhado muitos dos acontecimentos. Assim é-nos permitido acompanhar a evolução espantosa desta personagem, que passa de menina travessa e mimada a arguta e temida “Senhora�. Uma personagem que tem tanto de intrigante como de austera.
Catarina é-nos apresentada com uma mulher obstinada, determinada e ousada em tudo o que faz. No seu trajecto depara-se com Rodrigo Bórgia, de quem fica amante, e com quem quebra o relacionamento posteriormente, para descontentamento do mesmo.
Na luta pelo poder e defesa dos seus bens e interesses, os Borgia passam a ser um dos obstáculos e um temivél inimigo com que Catarina tem que se debater ao longo do enredo.
Dea é o oposto, uma personagem mais submissa, a confidente, e mais fiel aos papéis que lhe foram atribuídos, com o peculiar dom de ler as cartas.
Neste livro somos brindados com momentos de uma enorme sensualidade, como pequenas pérolas. Pequenos e preciosos (...)»
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Este livro tem dois pontos de incontornável interesse, Catarina Sforza uma figura impar e os Borgia.
Catarina Sforza «famosa por sua audácia no amor e na guerra», dominava ambas as artes! Com um apurado sentido prático, uma perspicácia politica e militar que sobressaia e a destacava. Era adorada por uns e temida por outros.
Esta é a época dos Borgia, a incontornável família espanhola/italiana da renascença italiana, que conseguiu “produzir� 3 papas. Uma família onde o sexo, a corrupção, incesto, adultério e assassinatos (preferencialmente por envenenamento) alimentavam e conduziam a ganância pelo poder. Esta carga sombria que envolvia a família é também um dos grandes apelativos da mesma, dando origem a uma famosa série televisiva com o nome “The Borgias�.
Narrada pela dama de companhia (e irmã adoptiva) de Catarina Sforza, Dea, esta história ganha cor nas suas palavras e anseios, na Fortaleza de Ravaldino, quando estão a ser atacadas. E através de um “flasback� ganhamos a percepção de toda a história e o que as levou até ali.
A descrição das personagens é um verdadeiro deleite, são descrições coloridas e breves.
«Está nua, e a luz impregna a sua pele branca de um brilho quente, como se tivesse mergulhada em mel (...)»
Gostava de realçar também o detalhe oportuno e não muito extenso com que somos brindados ao longo deste livro. A autora detêm a minúcia e o talento que nos permite transportar para o século XV.
Não pude deixar de reparar na atenção peculiar dada ao nariz de muitas das personagens, que de uma forma “definitiva� decretam a beleza, ou a falta dela, de uma personagem.
Catarina é uma mulher, cujo crescimento acompanhamos pelos olhos de Dea, através de confidências, diálogos e de ter testemunhado muitos dos acontecimentos. Assim é-nos permitido acompanhar a evolução espantosa desta personagem, que passa de menina travessa e mimada a arguta e temida “Senhora�. Uma personagem que tem tanto de intrigante como de austera.
Catarina é-nos apresentada com uma mulher obstinada, determinada e ousada em tudo o que faz. No seu trajecto depara-se com Rodrigo Bórgia, de quem fica amante, e com quem quebra o relacionamento posteriormente, para descontentamento do mesmo.
Na luta pelo poder e defesa dos seus bens e interesses, os Borgia passam a ser um dos obstáculos e um temivél inimigo com que Catarina tem que se debater ao longo do enredo.
Dea é o oposto, uma personagem mais submissa, a confidente, e mais fiel aos papéis que lhe foram atribuídos, com o peculiar dom de ler as cartas.
Neste livro somos brindados com momentos de uma enorme sensualidade, como pequenas pérolas. Pequenos e preciosos (...)»
Ler mais em:
January 21, 2011
When I picked this book up at the library, I was under the impression that a good friend of mine had strongly recommended "The Scarlet Contessa" to me. Either a) I misremembered the wrong friend, or b) I fabricated the whole thing, because my friend denies all responsibility for this book. Either way, "The Scarlet Contessa" isn't bad. It's reasonably well written and the topic is a favorite one of mine: women who come to bad ends because they're too damned smart, ambitious, and just like men. I do rather wish, though, that writers of historical fiction would shy away from the magic mumbo-jumbo. Seriously, what's with the witches and angels and fortune-tellers? Are you listening to me, Phillipa Gregory? And yes, Jeanne Kalogridis, I'm talking to you! Next time, just tell me the story about the awesome woman, and avoid placing a clairvoyant servant as the narrator. Kalogridis did a nice job with the description of architecture and the Italian landscape - and after all, that's why we read books about the Italian Renaissance, isn't it? I wish she'd given me a bit more of the same, and a lot more socioeconomic and depth to the phenomenon of an ambitious (bastard-born!) woman. Caterina Sforza is obviously a compelling historical character, as is the wife of her father. I wish the focus of the story had stayed firmly on the women.
May 13, 2020
� 3.5 �
Il romanzo storico si apre nella Rocca di Ravaldino, nel dicembre del 1499. Caterina Sforza chiusa nella sua fortezza apprende dell’arrivo del Valentino, Cesare Borgia, che dopo aver preso Imola, si volge verso Forlì. Insieme a lei, c’� Dea, la sua dama di compagnia, voce narrante della storia, che inizia a ricordare il loro percorso.
C’� quindi un ritorno al passato. Andiamo a Milano, presso la corte degli Sforza, guidata dal violento Duca Galeazzo Maria Sforza, padre di Caterina, e si ripercorre pian piano tutta la storia della donna dalla sua vita a Milano, ai suoi matrimoni, dal soggiorno a Roma, a quello di Forlì ed Imola. Tutto è narrato dalla voce di Almadea, Dea, che resterà quasi sempre al fianco della sua Signora.
Dea è una ragazza orfana che gli Sforza hanno adottato, e che scopre ben presto di avere un dono particolare: quando posa le mani sui tarocchi, sente una strana sensazione di calore, ed è come se fosse sempre stata capace di leggere quelle carte. Dea legge il futuro a diversi uomini della Storia, da Galeazzo Maria Sforza, a Lorenzo de Medici, ma anche alla stessa Caterina, alla quale, ben presto si scoprirà strettamente legata. Due Trionfi in particolare compaiono spesso: l’Impiccato e la Torre, carte foriere di presagi, di sacrifici, di cadute, di scelte da prendere.
È un lungo percorso che ci riporterà di nuovo all’incipit del romanzo. Alle loro storie s’intrecceranno anche altre figure storiche realmente esistite: i Medici, i Borgia, i Riario, gli Orsi, Niccolò Machiavelli, Marsilio Ficino, catapultandoci totalmente in quei mondi rinascimentali, fatti di intrighi, di feste, di assassini, di vendette, di sangue� Un mondo che per certi versi affascina, per altri spaventa.
Alla storia, eventi realmente accaduti, s’intreccia anche qui una componente magica, esoterica, mistica, che si lega soprattutto alla figura di Dea, vera protagonista del romanzo. Un elemento che, personalmente, amo moltissimo, ma che a mio avviso, in questo caso non è sapientemente inserito. Soprattutto riguardo alla figura di quest’Angelo che risulta alla fine un po� inutile, rimane un po� in sospeso, o comunque a me non ha detto poi molto. Mentre, per quanto riguarda la lettura dei tarocchi, ne sono rimasta come sempre molto affascinata.
I due punti che caratterizzano i romanzi storici della Kalogridis infatti sono questi: da un lato si focalizza sulla figura della Donna, donandole uno spessore che soprattutto in quei periodi non ha veramente mai avuto. Donne forti, coraggiose e passionali che sono esistite realmente nella grande Storia, soprattutto nel Rinascimento Italiano, epoca che ha preso in considerazione e che tenta di ricostruire in maniera più o meno fedele. Dall’altra l’esistenza di una componente magica, esoterica, un elemento soprannaturale per costruire un intreccio più particolare e in taluni casi avvincente.
Questi due elementi li ritroviamo anche in questo romanzo, ma a mio avviso ci sono alcune cose che non vanno. Innanzitutto la figura di Caterina Sforza appare molto spesso in secondo piano, rispetto a Dea. In fondo, noi vediamo tutto dalla visione di quest’ultima, che racconta delle scelte � spesso inopportune � della sua Signora, e che mostra questa donna molto forte, coraggiosa, che non si arrende così facilmente, e che ama moltissimo il combattimento � ponendosi molte volte in prima linea con armi e armature -. Una donna che non si abbassa al potere degli uomini, che combatte fino alla fine, anche quando sa che la situazione è pessima. Tutto ciò, in verità, traspare� ma da un lato sarebbe stato meglio forse sentire la voce stessa di Caterina in modo da� “far stupire il mondo�.
Dall’altro, come dicevo, l’elemento magico/esoterico non mi ha colpita più di tanto, mi aspettavo qualcosa di diverso forse, un utilizzo più presente dei tarocchi, lasciando da parte l’immagine dell’Angelo.
Resta però la bellezza dello stile, molto descrittivo: la Kalogridis si sofferma anche molto sulla descrizione degli abiti; se da un lato può risultare eccessivo, dall’altro per me aiuta ancor di più ad accedere totalmente a quel mondo lontano, ma sempre affascinante. Mi piace molto poi questa voglia di porre in luce le figure femminili, che non si abbassano sempre al potere degli uomini, ma sono capaci di sollevare la testa, e dimostrare che non sono da meno.
Se però siete alla ricerca di un libro dove la Storia è perfettamente raccontata, vi freno un attimo. Si vede bene la ricerca effettuata, ma molte parti e personaggi mancano � andando poi a far ricerche -, quindi questo può essere un primo approccio al tema, da arricchire poi in seguito con volumi più sicuri e approfonditi. È una lettura piacevole e scorrevole, un bel romanzo da leggere senza troppe pretese. Molti eventi sono realmente accaduti, altri sono infarciti di un tocco di fantasia e passione � son sincera le scene di sesso in certi casi potevano essere eliminate -, ma ci sono anche episodi che prendono vita dalle leggende: come quando Caterina solleva le gonne, mostrando il suo sesso agli Orsi che minacciano di ucciderle i figli, e dice “fate pure! Non vedete, idioti, che ho i mezzi per farne altri?�.
(Che donna!).
Di Caterina però ho letto che si occupò anche di alchimia, erboristeria, medicina e cosmetica, creando anche un vero e proprio ricettario di bellezza. Ecco, tutto questo manca nel libro, mentre io lo avrei trovato davvero interessante. Ma del resto, nelle vicende è assente tutto il periodo dopo la caduta nelle mani di Cesare Borgia (c’� una postfazione nella quale si spiegano gli eventi successivi). E anche la sua vendetta sanguinaria � non essendo presente tutta la parte del suo secondo matrimonio con Giacomo Feo.
Insomma, alla fine, è stata una lettura tra alti e bassi: in alcuni momenti ho trovato molta bellezza, mi sono sentita più coinvolta, per altri aspetti ho provato noia e una sorta di fastidio e delusione. Non è un libro da buttare, però. Io la Kalogridis la consiglio lo stesso, anche se in questo caso non è riuscita a convincermi in maniera totale.
Se cercate comunque una lettura “leggera� sull’Italia del Rinascimento, potete leggerlo � anche se vi consiglio di più gli altri suoi romanzi -, per poi � però � approfondire la figura di Caterina Sforza con altri libri più precisi storicamente parlando.
Il romanzo storico si apre nella Rocca di Ravaldino, nel dicembre del 1499. Caterina Sforza chiusa nella sua fortezza apprende dell’arrivo del Valentino, Cesare Borgia, che dopo aver preso Imola, si volge verso Forlì. Insieme a lei, c’� Dea, la sua dama di compagnia, voce narrante della storia, che inizia a ricordare il loro percorso.
C’� quindi un ritorno al passato. Andiamo a Milano, presso la corte degli Sforza, guidata dal violento Duca Galeazzo Maria Sforza, padre di Caterina, e si ripercorre pian piano tutta la storia della donna dalla sua vita a Milano, ai suoi matrimoni, dal soggiorno a Roma, a quello di Forlì ed Imola. Tutto è narrato dalla voce di Almadea, Dea, che resterà quasi sempre al fianco della sua Signora.
Dea è una ragazza orfana che gli Sforza hanno adottato, e che scopre ben presto di avere un dono particolare: quando posa le mani sui tarocchi, sente una strana sensazione di calore, ed è come se fosse sempre stata capace di leggere quelle carte. Dea legge il futuro a diversi uomini della Storia, da Galeazzo Maria Sforza, a Lorenzo de Medici, ma anche alla stessa Caterina, alla quale, ben presto si scoprirà strettamente legata. Due Trionfi in particolare compaiono spesso: l’Impiccato e la Torre, carte foriere di presagi, di sacrifici, di cadute, di scelte da prendere.
È un lungo percorso che ci riporterà di nuovo all’incipit del romanzo. Alle loro storie s’intrecceranno anche altre figure storiche realmente esistite: i Medici, i Borgia, i Riario, gli Orsi, Niccolò Machiavelli, Marsilio Ficino, catapultandoci totalmente in quei mondi rinascimentali, fatti di intrighi, di feste, di assassini, di vendette, di sangue� Un mondo che per certi versi affascina, per altri spaventa.
Alla storia, eventi realmente accaduti, s’intreccia anche qui una componente magica, esoterica, mistica, che si lega soprattutto alla figura di Dea, vera protagonista del romanzo. Un elemento che, personalmente, amo moltissimo, ma che a mio avviso, in questo caso non è sapientemente inserito. Soprattutto riguardo alla figura di quest’Angelo che risulta alla fine un po� inutile, rimane un po� in sospeso, o comunque a me non ha detto poi molto. Mentre, per quanto riguarda la lettura dei tarocchi, ne sono rimasta come sempre molto affascinata.
I due punti che caratterizzano i romanzi storici della Kalogridis infatti sono questi: da un lato si focalizza sulla figura della Donna, donandole uno spessore che soprattutto in quei periodi non ha veramente mai avuto. Donne forti, coraggiose e passionali che sono esistite realmente nella grande Storia, soprattutto nel Rinascimento Italiano, epoca che ha preso in considerazione e che tenta di ricostruire in maniera più o meno fedele. Dall’altra l’esistenza di una componente magica, esoterica, un elemento soprannaturale per costruire un intreccio più particolare e in taluni casi avvincente.
Questi due elementi li ritroviamo anche in questo romanzo, ma a mio avviso ci sono alcune cose che non vanno. Innanzitutto la figura di Caterina Sforza appare molto spesso in secondo piano, rispetto a Dea. In fondo, noi vediamo tutto dalla visione di quest’ultima, che racconta delle scelte � spesso inopportune � della sua Signora, e che mostra questa donna molto forte, coraggiosa, che non si arrende così facilmente, e che ama moltissimo il combattimento � ponendosi molte volte in prima linea con armi e armature -. Una donna che non si abbassa al potere degli uomini, che combatte fino alla fine, anche quando sa che la situazione è pessima. Tutto ciò, in verità, traspare� ma da un lato sarebbe stato meglio forse sentire la voce stessa di Caterina in modo da� “far stupire il mondo�.
Dall’altro, come dicevo, l’elemento magico/esoterico non mi ha colpita più di tanto, mi aspettavo qualcosa di diverso forse, un utilizzo più presente dei tarocchi, lasciando da parte l’immagine dell’Angelo.
Resta però la bellezza dello stile, molto descrittivo: la Kalogridis si sofferma anche molto sulla descrizione degli abiti; se da un lato può risultare eccessivo, dall’altro per me aiuta ancor di più ad accedere totalmente a quel mondo lontano, ma sempre affascinante. Mi piace molto poi questa voglia di porre in luce le figure femminili, che non si abbassano sempre al potere degli uomini, ma sono capaci di sollevare la testa, e dimostrare che non sono da meno.
Se però siete alla ricerca di un libro dove la Storia è perfettamente raccontata, vi freno un attimo. Si vede bene la ricerca effettuata, ma molte parti e personaggi mancano � andando poi a far ricerche -, quindi questo può essere un primo approccio al tema, da arricchire poi in seguito con volumi più sicuri e approfonditi. È una lettura piacevole e scorrevole, un bel romanzo da leggere senza troppe pretese. Molti eventi sono realmente accaduti, altri sono infarciti di un tocco di fantasia e passione � son sincera le scene di sesso in certi casi potevano essere eliminate -, ma ci sono anche episodi che prendono vita dalle leggende: come quando Caterina solleva le gonne, mostrando il suo sesso agli Orsi che minacciano di ucciderle i figli, e dice “fate pure! Non vedete, idioti, che ho i mezzi per farne altri?�.
(Che donna!).
Di Caterina però ho letto che si occupò anche di alchimia, erboristeria, medicina e cosmetica, creando anche un vero e proprio ricettario di bellezza. Ecco, tutto questo manca nel libro, mentre io lo avrei trovato davvero interessante. Ma del resto, nelle vicende è assente tutto il periodo dopo la caduta nelle mani di Cesare Borgia (c’� una postfazione nella quale si spiegano gli eventi successivi). E anche la sua vendetta sanguinaria � non essendo presente tutta la parte del suo secondo matrimonio con Giacomo Feo.
Insomma, alla fine, è stata una lettura tra alti e bassi: in alcuni momenti ho trovato molta bellezza, mi sono sentita più coinvolta, per altri aspetti ho provato noia e una sorta di fastidio e delusione. Non è un libro da buttare, però. Io la Kalogridis la consiglio lo stesso, anche se in questo caso non è riuscita a convincermi in maniera totale.
Se cercate comunque una lettura “leggera� sull’Italia del Rinascimento, potete leggerlo � anche se vi consiglio di più gli altri suoi romanzi -, per poi � però � approfondire la figura di Caterina Sforza con altri libri più precisi storicamente parlando.
May 20, 2021
Uma história mais
June 21, 2012
The prologue failed to intrigue me but, knowing the author is very talented, I decided to continue anyway. Sure enough, the book picked up. Renaissance Italy was shown to be a bright and vivid place. The character development of Caterina Sforza was well paced and convincing. However, the same cannot be said of the protagonist. Without giving anything away, the inclusion of magic was fairly pointless later on in the book. I had expected it to be built upon more so that it would be relevant.
As for the plot, it was rather good. My only problem is that it was pretty obvious from early on in the book that Rodrigo Borgia was Matteo's killer. For these reasons I have taken away a star. Still, the story was compelling enough that I kept reading. There were times when it felt a little bit like a summary rather than an actual story, but overall this book was an enjoyable read.
The only thing that spoiled it for me was that Dea failed to kill Cesare Borgia despite - against all odds - making it from the fortress to his chambers. It was supposed to be some sort of moral accomplishment, the choice alluded to in the cards, but I didn't understand ('magic' aspect of the story aside) why Dea would chose not to kill him. After all, Cesare Borgia had killed countless people, raped the girl in the bed beside him as well as many others (and would rape and humiliate Caterina), and was going to go on in exactly the same way. The love he had shown Lucrezia as a child influenced Dea, but he simply wasn't that child any more even if he did love his sister. He had grown up to be a brutal, cruel man. For this reason I have docked a star.
As for the plot, it was rather good. My only problem is that it was pretty obvious from early on in the book that Rodrigo Borgia was Matteo's killer. For these reasons I have taken away a star. Still, the story was compelling enough that I kept reading. There were times when it felt a little bit like a summary rather than an actual story, but overall this book was an enjoyable read.
The only thing that spoiled it for me was that Dea failed to kill Cesare Borgia despite - against all odds - making it from the fortress to his chambers. It was supposed to be some sort of moral accomplishment, the choice alluded to in the cards, but I didn't understand ('magic' aspect of the story aside) why Dea would chose not to kill him. After all, Cesare Borgia had killed countless people, raped the girl in the bed beside him as well as many others (and would rape and humiliate Caterina), and was going to go on in exactly the same way. The love he had shown Lucrezia as a child influenced Dea, but he simply wasn't that child any more even if he did love his sister. He had grown up to be a brutal, cruel man. For this reason I have docked a star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2014
I am disappointed in this historical novel which seems mostly to be about fictional characters. The novel begins with casting Caterina, the teenager, as a hard hearted, cruel and trivial young woman, viewed by a fictional lady-in-waiting to Bona, Caterina's stepmother. This lady in waiting called "Dea" for short has a ridiculous marriage to a young man who never consummates the marriage but is depicted as lovingly honoring Dea and trusting to her secrets of his writings, codes, and schemes of prediction. Dea herself is depicted as being skilled at reading the tarot-like be-jeweled cards given to Bona from Lorenzo de Medici. Kalogridis does portray the assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, her father, with historical accuracy.
I recommend to anyone interested in Caterina Sforza (Caterina Riario Sforza de Medici) to read the historical account by Elizabeth Lev, The Tigress of Forli. The television series The Borgias gave a twisted history of her, yet did show her as the heroic person she was but limited to her defense of her castle, her capture and rape by Cesere Borgia, and her imprisonment in Rome.
I recommend to anyone interested in Caterina Sforza (Caterina Riario Sforza de Medici) to read the historical account by Elizabeth Lev, The Tigress of Forli. The television series The Borgias gave a twisted history of her, yet did show her as the heroic person she was but limited to her defense of her castle, her capture and rape by Cesere Borgia, and her imprisonment in Rome.
August 7, 2010
Loved her earlier books, the Borgia Bride and I, Mona Lisa. However, this book fell flat. I thought the main character was selfish and just didn't appeal to me at all. What I enjoyed about her earlier books was that she delved into the politics of the Italy and Rome. While the author attempted to bring in the political aspects of this book, it just didn't work. The politics ended up being more of a sub plot. Very disappointing.
Read
May 10, 2011Was this a romance novel? Was this a shot at historical fiction? Was it a mystery? All questions I asked myself while reading it. I found it somewhat entertaining, slightly interesting, but really in need of a good researcher. Did palaces in Rome really have driveways in this time period? Did ladies in waiting know enough about science to compare a bright light to an atom? If you can overlook these 20th century references you might find this book interesting.
April 3, 2012
I really wanted to like this, but it simply didn't hit hard enough. The premise was interesting and the last chapter was great; the ~400 pages in between were painfully slow, going through all the motions of a grand epic without the intensity of emotion, like watching one of the big mechanical critters in the second Star Wars movie pick up its leg and put its leg down again. Would have been better at half the length.
August 10, 2017
Nonostante la lettura scorrevole mi chiedo perche' la Kalogridis debba inserire degli elementi 'magici' in una storia che sarebbe indubbiamente interessante anche senza: tutta questa storia dell'angelo devo dire che e' veramente ridicola e soprattutto, inutile. A parte questo, ed a parte che Cesare Borgia era il secondogenito di Rodrigo e non il figlio maggiore, una lettura piacevole e ben scritta.
September 11, 2021
The orphaned Dea is taken into the household of Bona, duchess of Milan, who also cares for the bastard children of her husband. Among those is the young and beautiful teenager Catherina Sforza who dotes on her father. But Duke Gian Galeazzo Sforza has many enemies and he is murdered during a church visit. Dea’s fate is now collided with Catherina as she accompanies her to Rome to her wedding with Girolamo Riario, the pope’s nephew.
After Engeland, renaissance Italy is my second favourite historical setting. I just love all the political intrigues, the art, romances and yes even the bloodshed. Catherina Sforza is by far my most loved character of this period and this is one of the only fictional novels about her life. I also enjoyed two other works from Kalogridis before. ‘I, Mona Lisa� about Da Vinci and his Lisa (I don’t remember a lot from it) and ‘The devil’s queen� about Catherine De Medici which I liked a lot. Needless to say, I was looking forward to reading ‘The scarlet contessa�.
However, the novel is told from the fictional perspective of Dea, Catherina’s lady-in-waiting who has a magical gift to read the future via tarot cards. A huge part of the storyline goes to exploring Dea’s background (her parentage, her gifts, her relationship with her husband�) and I was just eagerly waiting until Catherina’s story would really start taking off.
It did at a certain point. After the assassination of her father, she goes to Rome to marry into the forceful Riario family. There, she meets charming Rodrigo Borgia, who will become her arch enemy and also Giuliano Della Rovere, another future pope. When pope Sixtus dies, Catherina and her husband move to their estates of Imola and Forli and there will be a lot of trouble for them. I don’t want go into too much detail about the (complex) politics, but Kalogridis does a great job in making it understandable.
Unfortunately, she has to omit certain things from the story in order to do that. There is no mention of Catherina’s second marriage and a few of her children are also not spoken of. Instead, we again get some more insight in Dea’s gifts and a heavy focus on the Borgias.
I did like this novel, I just believe a less heavy focus on the fantasy part would have worked better. Regarding Catherine De Medici, I liked the magic because it is just part of how we look at her. In this novel, it felt out of place. Catherina Sforza was a formidable woman and commander of her army. Had she been born a man, she would have become a great military leader. In this novel, she turns from a vain young lustful girl into this woman that I admire. And no magic is needed to tell that story in my opinion.
I still need to read Kalogridis� most famous book ‘The Borgia bride� which receives higher ratings and is about Sancha of Aragon. If you have read and loved Sarah Dunant’s work about renaissance Italy, Jeanne Kalogridis is your next go to!
Dutch review:
Dea is geadopteerd door de hertogin van Milaan en leeft als hofdame aan het hof van de Sforza's. De hertog heeft echter veel vijanden en wordt vermoord in zijn eigen kerk. Dea's lot wordt daardoor verbonden aan diens bastaardochter Catherina Sforza wanneer die naar Rome trekt om te trouwen met Girolamo Riario, de zoon van de Paus.
Catherina Sforza is misschien wel mijn favoriete vrouw uit de geschiedenis. Ik keek dus al lang uit naar dit boek. Zeker omdat ik 'I, Mona Lisa' en 'The devil's queen' van dezelfde auteur wel allebei kon smaken, ook al zit er heel wat magie in haar verhalen en zijn er soms rare twists. Daar was ik op voorbereid.
Het boek draait om Dea en Catherina en legt heel wat politieke intriges uit renaissance Italië bloot. Dat stuk vond ik echt geweldig en daarom heb ik dit boek enorm graag gelezen.
Maar Dea heeft de magische gave om de toekomst te voorspellen en dat was ook een heel sterke plotlijn in dit verhaal, waardoor de aandacht afnam van Catherina. En dat vond ik heel jammer. Ik heb ook dit plot wel graag gelezen maar het voelt alsof er te veel pagina's aan gewijd werden. Terwijl de schrijfster daardoor Catherina's tweede huwelijk en een aantal van haar kinderen doodzwijgt.
Er zijn zo weinig boeken over haar. Wat een fantastische vrouw. Graag gelezen, maar de minste van deze schrijfster tot nu toe.
After Engeland, renaissance Italy is my second favourite historical setting. I just love all the political intrigues, the art, romances and yes even the bloodshed. Catherina Sforza is by far my most loved character of this period and this is one of the only fictional novels about her life. I also enjoyed two other works from Kalogridis before. ‘I, Mona Lisa� about Da Vinci and his Lisa (I don’t remember a lot from it) and ‘The devil’s queen� about Catherine De Medici which I liked a lot. Needless to say, I was looking forward to reading ‘The scarlet contessa�.
However, the novel is told from the fictional perspective of Dea, Catherina’s lady-in-waiting who has a magical gift to read the future via tarot cards. A huge part of the storyline goes to exploring Dea’s background (her parentage, her gifts, her relationship with her husband�) and I was just eagerly waiting until Catherina’s story would really start taking off.
It did at a certain point. After the assassination of her father, she goes to Rome to marry into the forceful Riario family. There, she meets charming Rodrigo Borgia, who will become her arch enemy and also Giuliano Della Rovere, another future pope. When pope Sixtus dies, Catherina and her husband move to their estates of Imola and Forli and there will be a lot of trouble for them. I don’t want go into too much detail about the (complex) politics, but Kalogridis does a great job in making it understandable.
Unfortunately, she has to omit certain things from the story in order to do that. There is no mention of Catherina’s second marriage and a few of her children are also not spoken of. Instead, we again get some more insight in Dea’s gifts and a heavy focus on the Borgias.
I did like this novel, I just believe a less heavy focus on the fantasy part would have worked better. Regarding Catherine De Medici, I liked the magic because it is just part of how we look at her. In this novel, it felt out of place. Catherina Sforza was a formidable woman and commander of her army. Had she been born a man, she would have become a great military leader. In this novel, she turns from a vain young lustful girl into this woman that I admire. And no magic is needed to tell that story in my opinion.
I still need to read Kalogridis� most famous book ‘The Borgia bride� which receives higher ratings and is about Sancha of Aragon. If you have read and loved Sarah Dunant’s work about renaissance Italy, Jeanne Kalogridis is your next go to!
Dutch review:
Dea is geadopteerd door de hertogin van Milaan en leeft als hofdame aan het hof van de Sforza's. De hertog heeft echter veel vijanden en wordt vermoord in zijn eigen kerk. Dea's lot wordt daardoor verbonden aan diens bastaardochter Catherina Sforza wanneer die naar Rome trekt om te trouwen met Girolamo Riario, de zoon van de Paus.
Catherina Sforza is misschien wel mijn favoriete vrouw uit de geschiedenis. Ik keek dus al lang uit naar dit boek. Zeker omdat ik 'I, Mona Lisa' en 'The devil's queen' van dezelfde auteur wel allebei kon smaken, ook al zit er heel wat magie in haar verhalen en zijn er soms rare twists. Daar was ik op voorbereid.
Het boek draait om Dea en Catherina en legt heel wat politieke intriges uit renaissance Italië bloot. Dat stuk vond ik echt geweldig en daarom heb ik dit boek enorm graag gelezen.
Maar Dea heeft de magische gave om de toekomst te voorspellen en dat was ook een heel sterke plotlijn in dit verhaal, waardoor de aandacht afnam van Catherina. En dat vond ik heel jammer. Ik heb ook dit plot wel graag gelezen maar het voelt alsof er te veel pagina's aan gewijd werden. Terwijl de schrijfster daardoor Catherina's tweede huwelijk en een aantal van haar kinderen doodzwijgt.
Er zijn zo weinig boeken over haar. Wat een fantastische vrouw. Graag gelezen, maar de minste van deze schrijfster tot nu toe.
June 30, 2017
While reading the book I really felt like I should give it less stars because I found the story to be quite different than the intended subject matter. However, I read the book in less than three days staying up late at night and forgetting about all types of chores. This proves that even if the story was focused more on the life of the fictional character Dea than on the life of Katerina Sforza the narrative was so enthralling that I just wanted to read more and more...
To be honest, especially throughout the first 100 pages or so the book really seems to be more about the supposed to be maid of Sforza than about her. But what the tale actually tells is the character of Katerina and why she became the way she was.
Suffice it to say that apart from the fictional character Dea and her husband pretty much every other character of the book as well as the historical part are accurate!
To be honest, especially throughout the first 100 pages or so the book really seems to be more about the supposed to be maid of Sforza than about her. But what the tale actually tells is the character of Katerina and why she became the way she was.
Suffice it to say that apart from the fictional character Dea and her husband pretty much every other character of the book as well as the historical part are accurate!
June 8, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. After reading "The Borgia Bride" by the same author, I was so excited to read this one!
But the whole book was told from the viewpoint of a different character (that didn't even exist in history), and while at times I was really into the plot, the end was a major let down.
But the whole book was told from the viewpoint of a different character (that didn't even exist in history), and while at times I was really into the plot, the end was a major let down.
July 19, 2020
Kesalahan terbesar buku ini adalah pakai POV 1. Tapi sayangnya karakter yang dipilih sebagai narrator ini adalah orang gak penting yang gak menarik minat pembaca. Udah gitu si narrator hobby banget menceritakan detail kisah hidupnya, perasaannya, kisah cinta dan religiusnya sendiri dll dll seolah2 dialah si pemeran utamanya. Sementara pembaca mengharapkan narasi full tentang riwayat karakter utama War Lady , Caterina Sforza yang cuma muncul bak figuran disini.
February 12, 2023
I came for the history part of the novel and was very much annoyed by the 'mystical' and 'magical' add-ons, which made me put this book aside on my first attempt to read it. Eventually, I did finish it, but I much prefer to take my history novels straight, or for there to be some sort of indication that the novel is a historical fantasy.
March 19, 2019
I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn't. The pacing was slow, it was sloppily edited, and it just didn't hold my interest.
July 15, 2014
Num livro de ficção histórica faço sempre questão de averiguar o que é realidade e o que é invenção, o que é relato e interpretação e o que é trabalho extra de pura imaginação. Assim, em 'A Amante do Papa', adorei a crónica da vida de Catarina Sforza mas debati-me com a forma como a autora optou por complementar a narrativa.
Não há dúvida nenhuma que Catarina Sforza é uma personagem histórica de extremo interesse - uma mulher ambiciosa, corajosa e determinada que insistiu em desempenhar papeis reservados ao género masculino, no seu tempo, que lutou ferozmente tanto para defender o que lhe pertencia como para conquistar o que cobiçava e que teve inclusivamente a audácia de desafiar e enfrentar os Bórgias.
Da mesma forma, não me ficaram dúvidas em relação à competência da autora, especialmente no que toca à sua magnífica atenção ao detalhe, permitindo-lhe desenvolver ambientes e cenários fabulosos e caracterizar muito habilmente as suas personagens.
Foi a forma como Jeanne Kalogridis optou por construir e desenvolver a sua narrativa que veio roubar um bocadinho ao meu prazer de leitura. Primeiro porque preferia que a narrativa fosse abordada ou do ponto de vista da própria Catarina ou então por um narrador imparcial ao invés de uma personagem fictícia - Dea - que acaba por subtrair à credibilidade da narração devido à sua adoração cega por Catarina.
A história de Dea não despertou o meu interesse como o fez a de Catarina. Nem mesmo a sua suposta participação/influência nas decisões de Catarina me levaram a pensar que ela veio enriquecer, de alguma forma, a história. Além disso, aborrece-me pessoalmente ver o sobrenatural ganhar tanta importância num livro de ficção histórica; gosto de ver descritas as crenças da época e respetiva contextualização, aprecio a descrição dos rituais e das práticas executadas na altura mas o tipo de crédito que foi dado neste livro à cartomancia e ao poder pressagiador das visões de Dea, em que todas as previsões eram confirmadas mais tarde através de acontecimentos, incomoda-me.
Gostei bastante de rever a história de Catarina Sforza, em 'A Amante do Papa' e gostei da interpretação da autora em relação às acções desta mulher, tendo sempre em conta o contexto histórico e o panorama político da altura. Jeanne Kalogridis manipulou bem a complexa história que tinha em mãos - uma cheia de intriga e ambição - que se desenrolou no interessantíssimo e tumultuoso cenário renascentista. Gostei do modo como abordou os conflitos entre as poderosas famílias italianas, sedentas de mais poder, e de ver como cada uma das personagens, de uma forma ou de outra, acabou por influenciar o desfecho.
Não há dúvida nenhuma que Catarina Sforza é uma personagem histórica de extremo interesse - uma mulher ambiciosa, corajosa e determinada que insistiu em desempenhar papeis reservados ao género masculino, no seu tempo, que lutou ferozmente tanto para defender o que lhe pertencia como para conquistar o que cobiçava e que teve inclusivamente a audácia de desafiar e enfrentar os Bórgias.
Da mesma forma, não me ficaram dúvidas em relação à competência da autora, especialmente no que toca à sua magnífica atenção ao detalhe, permitindo-lhe desenvolver ambientes e cenários fabulosos e caracterizar muito habilmente as suas personagens.
Foi a forma como Jeanne Kalogridis optou por construir e desenvolver a sua narrativa que veio roubar um bocadinho ao meu prazer de leitura. Primeiro porque preferia que a narrativa fosse abordada ou do ponto de vista da própria Catarina ou então por um narrador imparcial ao invés de uma personagem fictícia - Dea - que acaba por subtrair à credibilidade da narração devido à sua adoração cega por Catarina.
A história de Dea não despertou o meu interesse como o fez a de Catarina. Nem mesmo a sua suposta participação/influência nas decisões de Catarina me levaram a pensar que ela veio enriquecer, de alguma forma, a história. Além disso, aborrece-me pessoalmente ver o sobrenatural ganhar tanta importância num livro de ficção histórica; gosto de ver descritas as crenças da época e respetiva contextualização, aprecio a descrição dos rituais e das práticas executadas na altura mas o tipo de crédito que foi dado neste livro à cartomancia e ao poder pressagiador das visões de Dea, em que todas as previsões eram confirmadas mais tarde através de acontecimentos, incomoda-me.
Gostei bastante de rever a história de Catarina Sforza, em 'A Amante do Papa' e gostei da interpretação da autora em relação às acções desta mulher, tendo sempre em conta o contexto histórico e o panorama político da altura. Jeanne Kalogridis manipulou bem a complexa história que tinha em mãos - uma cheia de intriga e ambição - que se desenrolou no interessantíssimo e tumultuoso cenário renascentista. Gostei do modo como abordou os conflitos entre as poderosas famílias italianas, sedentas de mais poder, e de ver como cada uma das personagens, de uma forma ou de outra, acabou por influenciar o desfecho.
October 3, 2013
SOME SPOILERS!
The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis is a novel of the Italian renaissance. As a tale of romance, mystery, dark fantasy, and historical fiction, I found this book amazing!
This is the author's fourth book. While I have never read any of her other book, they all take place in the European renaissance. Kalogidis is a very dedicated author having done a year of research to prepare to write this novel.
This book revolves around a real person, Caterina Sforza the Countess of Forlì. While the main character and narrator is her personal maid, Dea (who is fictional). The story starts when Dea is to be married, after she has been married, her husband dies. Put on a journey to find her husband's killer and keep her mistress safe, Dea learns many things about herself, the world, and the church.
This novel was amazing, scared of stepping out of my reading comfort zone I was unsure if I was going to read it, but I did and it was so worth it going out of my comfort zone. What first caught my attention of this book would be the amazing detail that made me feel like a ghost looking over the scene that Kalogridis beautifully described. Another thing that caught my attention was the rebellious nature of the spiritually of Dea, being a Christian raised woman in Malian, reading triumph cards and believing them. After Dea's husband dies, there is so much suspense of wanting to know who the killer is, and Dea's special guest that she must listen to, to find out who the killer is. Caterine Sforza was an amazing character to watch throughout the story, as a small child she was mean and hard, but when older and having to make hard decisions she is able to, and opens herself to her best friend Dea over the years.
So in the end we learn who the killer is and why Dea's husband was killed, and who her special guest is.
I personally loved, loved this novel! It is a great read for over a break or summer, though I would recommend that this book is a little adult so I would approve it for those eighteen years and older. Also, this is a very girly book, and wouldn't normally suggest it to boys because of the girly romance in the novel.
The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis, published by St. Martin's Griffin in 2010, standered price $14.99 US.
The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis is a novel of the Italian renaissance. As a tale of romance, mystery, dark fantasy, and historical fiction, I found this book amazing!
This is the author's fourth book. While I have never read any of her other book, they all take place in the European renaissance. Kalogidis is a very dedicated author having done a year of research to prepare to write this novel.
This book revolves around a real person, Caterina Sforza the Countess of Forlì. While the main character and narrator is her personal maid, Dea (who is fictional). The story starts when Dea is to be married, after she has been married, her husband dies. Put on a journey to find her husband's killer and keep her mistress safe, Dea learns many things about herself, the world, and the church.
This novel was amazing, scared of stepping out of my reading comfort zone I was unsure if I was going to read it, but I did and it was so worth it going out of my comfort zone. What first caught my attention of this book would be the amazing detail that made me feel like a ghost looking over the scene that Kalogridis beautifully described. Another thing that caught my attention was the rebellious nature of the spiritually of Dea, being a Christian raised woman in Malian, reading triumph cards and believing them. After Dea's husband dies, there is so much suspense of wanting to know who the killer is, and Dea's special guest that she must listen to, to find out who the killer is. Caterine Sforza was an amazing character to watch throughout the story, as a small child she was mean and hard, but when older and having to make hard decisions she is able to, and opens herself to her best friend Dea over the years.
So in the end we learn who the killer is and why Dea's husband was killed, and who her special guest is.
I personally loved, loved this novel! It is a great read for over a break or summer, though I would recommend that this book is a little adult so I would approve it for those eighteen years and older. Also, this is a very girly book, and wouldn't normally suggest it to boys because of the girly romance in the novel.
The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis, published by St. Martin's Griffin in 2010, standered price $14.99 US.
May 20, 2013
This was a very easy historical novel to get swept away in. From the start it drops you right into a dire situation which portends to only get worse for Caterina & is relayed to us by her closest attendant, Dea. I found Caterina an interesting woman. She had some aspects of her personality that were tough to love also she also displayed courage & steely determination. She was quite vivid & real & I loved watching her evolve throughout the book. For Dea's part, she was the anchoring heart of the story, for me. Her life winding along with Caterina's was fascinating to watch & though I figured out the twist of her marriage early on, I liked how that thread played out. I found that I really enjoyed the triumph cards & how they figured into Dea & Caterina's fates. I'm not too much for the supernatural aspect in my historical fiction but it really worked for me here. This was my first read by Kalogridis & I will happily read more of her works.
August 11, 2013
DO. NOT. READ. IT.
I bought this book because previouly I have read The Borgia Bride which was really really interesting and exciting and other books of the author which I found pretty good. So when I heard that she wrote another one about Caterina Sforza who in my opinion is was one of the most fascinating woman of the reneissance, I naturally ordered it. If only I knew that this book was more about her lady-in-waiting good friend and her triumph cards and this ridiculous superstitious nonsense with angels and stuff. Seriously?
And because of that I did not really see and could not imagine the reality of the story and the characters in it who actually are one of the greatest history changers (I think of the Borgia, Medici and Sforza family).
It was a huge disappointment for me because this book could have been really good and had a great potential. But alas, it was pure pain for me.
I bought this book because previouly I have read The Borgia Bride which was really really interesting and exciting and other books of the author which I found pretty good. So when I heard that she wrote another one about Caterina Sforza who in my opinion is was one of the most fascinating woman of the reneissance, I naturally ordered it. If only I knew that this book was more about her lady-in-waiting good friend and her triumph cards and this ridiculous superstitious nonsense with angels and stuff. Seriously?
And because of that I did not really see and could not imagine the reality of the story and the characters in it who actually are one of the greatest history changers (I think of the Borgia, Medici and Sforza family).
It was a huge disappointment for me because this book could have been really good and had a great potential. But alas, it was pure pain for me.
January 21, 2016
This book had a lot of potential, but was largely disappointing. The character's personalities fell flat. Caterina was alternatively portrayed as a self-absorbed child and a politically savvy woman, but it was difficult to reconcile these two images. It was also disappointing that the best way to demonstrate that Caterina was like a man was through her sexual appetite. Caterina Sforza was an amazing woman, but Kalogridis' depiction of her fell flat. Dea's story wasn't much better. At times it was difficult to remember what was going on with her and Matteo, because it was only the focus at the beginning and end of the novel. She was supposedly seeking revenge for her brother's death, but she never did much until the end to get revenge. For most of the time Dea's life was consumed by Caterina's wants and needs.
I wouldn't recommend this book.
I wouldn't recommend this book.
Read
July 30, 2011A confused effort that seems to try to please everyone: some neoplatonist magic, some bodice ripping, a touch of almost-incest for borgia fans, battle scenes and descriptions of sumptious palaces and dresses. A relaxing read in many ways, but one to be skimmed over. Catarina and Dea are appealing characters, as are their favorite male counterparts, Matteo, Luca, and Giovanni.
But there is a lot of confusion and lack of motivation.
Recommended with these warnings.
But there is a lot of confusion and lack of motivation.
Recommended with these warnings.
March 2, 2017
I put this book down for good at around the 30% mark on my kindle.
The writing was good, but I don't think the story was my cup of tea. The blurb offers a novel of Caterina Sforza, but this is really a story about a maid in her household, and her . There's nothing wrong with this, of course, but it isn't the story I wanted to read.
Despite my disappointment in this story, I would try another novel by this author.
The writing was good, but I don't think the story was my cup of tea. The blurb offers a novel of Caterina Sforza, but this is really a story about a maid in her household, and her . There's nothing wrong with this, of course, but it isn't the story I wanted to read.
Despite my disappointment in this story, I would try another novel by this author.
August 26, 2010
I'm looking for my book club book...set in the Renaissance. This was not it. I liked the main character, but there was too much death, sex/adultery/homosexuality, and negative portrayal of the Catholic church for my taste. So I'm still looking. I have one book to fall back on and 3 more to read by the end of September. :)
August 16, 2015
I've always been fascinated with strong historical females. Caterina Sforza is exactly one of them. As the daughter of the Duke of Milan, she often laments that if she was born a man, she would have been a great military presence. Even though she was female her mind was certainly a force to be reckoned with. And although this is fiction, some of the events are real. A great book.
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