The Scarlet City: A Novel of 16th Century Italy

By Hella S. Haasse

Book Overview

Although he bears one of the most notorious names in all of Italy, Giovanni Borgia doesn't know his parentage. Hella Haasse uses the Italian Wars as a backdrop for Giovanni's agonizing quest for his identity. Set against the backdrop of the Italian wars, this novel seeks to unravel the puzzle of Giovanni Borgia's true identity. Machiavelli, Vittoria Colonna, Michelangelo, the Borgias and the Medici are some of the characters who inhabit the secretive and dangerous world of sixteenth century Rome.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0897333721
• ISBN13: 9780897333726
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 2.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Detailed historical fiction

If you've never read about this period in Italy, you'll have to write down a chart of who's who as you work your way through the book, but it will give you an opportunity to understand the interplay among the Italian cities, the papal cities, France and the Holy Roman Empire/Spain at this point in history. It's not an easy period to digest. If you lack familiarity with it you will have to put in some effort. If you ARE familiar with the historical setting, you will enjoy the book immensely. Hella Haasse is not an easy author to read if it's your first intro to a time period, but she is a fascinating writer to learn from.

It was ok

It was a puzzled book but fun because i got to read about other histriola peple