The Borgias

This well-researched production follows the social and political dominance of Rodrigo Borgia and his children, Cesare and Lucrezia, during the early Renaissance in Catholic Europe. Narrator Julian Elfer's fluid pronunciation of French, Italian, and Spanish place names and notable persons retains listener immersion. Elfer adopts the tone of a privileged insider, divulging verified accounts of court intrigue, political machinations, and lurid gossip in equal measure. The narration and scholarship strike a balance that neither condemns nor condones the behavior of the Borgias, royalty, and clergy members. Rather, it allows the dramatic personalities to emerge from contemporary perceptions and vetted information. Rodrigo's notorious ascent and retention of the papacy as Alexander VI rivals the plot of any novel and makes for compelling listening. J.R.T. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine