This is the long-awaited sequel to Sarah Dunant's wonderful Blood and Beauty, which takes up the story of the Borgias once again in the final years of their dominance in Italy. At the beginning of 1502, it seems that nothing can stand in the way of the family's influence, which creeps its way across Italy, subduing its rivals with a blend of charm and violence. Charm comes courtesy of Pope Alexander VI's lovely daughter Lucrezia, who is making her way cross-country to be married to her third husband, Alfonso d'Este of Ferrara, and using her journey as a way to captivate the Papal States with her elegance, grace and sweetness. Violence, predictably, sits in the hands of her dangerous brother Cesare who prowls around the borders of their state, ears pricked for dissent or weakness. And, while this remarkable family strengthens their grip on Italy, a young diplomat in the Florentine Second Chancery follows their progress with quiet admiration.

This is another thoroughly enjoyable book on the Borgias, full of scandal, plots and broken promises. And yet its key strength is in Dunant's ability to humanise her characters, no matter how shocking their actions. Although their names have such resonance for the modern reader, her Lucrezia is simply a young woman trying to find her way in a new family; her Cesare and Machiavelli simply two men meeting in a room, one of whom dreams of making history, the other of writing it. This thoughtful approach underpins the more dramatic moments of the book, making it a gem of a read. Highly recommended, of course, for anyone who loved Blood and Beauty; though it stands perfectly well alone.

For the full review, which will be published on 18 February 2017, please see the link below:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/02/18/in-the-name-of-the-family-sarah-dunant