THE POPE S DAUGHTER

Incestuous femme fatale and murderess, or powerless pawn in deadly Machiavellian power games? Lucrezia Borgia is one of the most vilified figures in modern history. Daughter of the notorious pope, she was twice betrothed before the age of eleven and thrice married, and according to rumours had several lovers, including perhaps her own brother and father. Painted by turns as murderous, incestuous femme fatale, or as victim and plaything in the hand of her ruthless relatives, the real Lucrezia was probably none of these, and much more… Having carefully set the stage to put the Borgia''s evildoings in historical context, Fo shows us Lucrezia''s skill at navigating the dangerous waters of Renaissance politics and its continuously shifting allegiances. He reveals her humanity, her passion for life and compassion for others, her patronage of the arts and judicious governance, whilst never shying away from what may have been Lucrezia''s darkest side. Lucrezia Borgia as narrated by Fo is a true child of the Renaissance and in many ways one of the world''s first modern women.