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Book at Bedtime: Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty

Clive Brill

Robert Glenister

Eileen Horne

Sarah Dunant

Book at Bedtime: Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty: Episode 4

Blood and Beauty

Episode 4

Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty

BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime, Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty, Episode 4

Alexander plays out a diplomatic chess game of matchmaking.

Alexander plays out the diplomatic chess game of matchmaking his three eligible offspring while making his fourth, Cesare, into a cardinal. Read by Robert Glenister.

Acclaimed novelist of the Italian Renaissance Sarah Dunant takes on the era's most infamous family - the Borgias.

The story of the Borgia Pope is not long - Roderigo Borgia, Alexander VI, was the Head of the Church for barely a decade - but an enormous amount of activity, social, political and sexual was crammed into that period.

Our abridgement begins in August 1492 when Roderigo Borgia wins his campaign to become Pope, and describes the repercussions for his children, Cesare, Juan, Lucrezia and Jofre. Juan, the only legitimate son, will be allied in marriage to Spain, while Cesare is promised to the church - thus ensuring their legacy within the Vatican. As for Lucrezia, she is part of the price Borgia paid for his Papacy - though only 12, she must wed to shore up an uneasy alliance with the powerful Milanese Sforza family.

Episode 4:
Alexander plays out the diplomatic chess game of matchmaking his three eligible offspring, and manages to make his fourth, Cesare, a Cardinal.

Read by Robert Glenister
Written by Sarah Dunant
Abridged by Eileen Horne

Produced by Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

By Sarah Dunant. Story of Italian Renaissance's most infamous family, the Borgias

By Sarah Dunant. Story of Italian Renaissance's most infamous family, the Borgias. Abridged by Eileen Horne. Read by Robert Glenister

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