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Book at Bedtime: Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty

Robert Glenister

Clive Brill

Sarah Dunant

Eileen Horne

Book at Bedtime: Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty: Episode 9

Blood and Beauty

Episode 9

Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty

BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime, Sarah Dunant - Blood and Beauty, Episode 9

While Lucrezia's marriage is forced to end, the Duke of Gandia plays soldier.

While Lucrezia's marriage is forced to end, the Duke of Gandia plays soldier, infuriating Cesare. Story of Italian Renaissance's most infamous family, 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 began last week in August 1492 when Roderigo Borgia won his campaign to become Pope. This week, we move on to the next four years of his reign. The problems seeded in the first year are blossoming into crises at every turn, as Italy explodes into war against the invading French. Rising above this challenge through a series of canny political manoeuvres, Alexander proves less able in his ability to control his children.

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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