Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
In the Name of the Family
- Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
- Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
In the Name of the Family - as Blood and Beauty did before - holds up a mirror to a turbulent moment of history, sweeping aside the myths to bring alive the real Borgia family: complicated, brutal, passionate and glorious. Here is a thrilling exploration of the House of Borgia's doomed years, in the company of a young diplomat named Niccolo Machiavelli.
It is 1502, and Rodrigo Borgia, a self-confessed womaniser and master of political corruption, is now on the papal throne as Alexander VI. His daughter Lucrezia, aged 22, already thrice married and a pawn in her father's plans, is discovering her own power. And then there is Cesare Borgia: brilliant, ruthless and increasingly unstable; it is his relationship with the diplomat Machiavelli which offers a master class on the dark arts of power and politics. What Machiavelli learns will go on to inform his great work of modern politics, The Prince. But while the pope rails against old age and his son's increasing maverick behavior, it is Lucrezia who will become the Borgia survivor, taking on her enemies and creating her own place in history.
Conjuring up the past in all its complexity, horror and pleasures, In the Name of the Family confirms Sarah Dunant's place as the leading novelist of the Renaissance and one of the most acclaimed historical fiction writers of our age.
What listeners say about In the Name of the Family
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mrs White
- 31-08-21
Loved this ❤️
This was a fascinating series, along with 'Blood and Beauty' 👍, thoroughly enjoyed. Will seek out the other historical novels by Sarah Dunant. Nicolas Boulton also excellent.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J. Edwards
- 19-02-24
Great read
Very graphic descriptions of a fascinating and highly influential family. I've learned a great deal.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Story
- Annie Kent
- 18-08-22
Another excellent read
Detailed, imaginative and engrossing. The narration was great too. I was sorry when it ended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anna Morris
- 19-04-21
Loved it
I enjoyed this second part of the story even more than Blood and Beauty. The change of narrator between the two was an initial jolt but as both were equally good, it didn't take long to adjust. A
fascinating listen based on amazing facts
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Pauline Shelton
- 10-03-24
Brilliant writing
I intensely dislike the ‘foreign accents’ which this narrator gives to the main characters. The previous title in the series (Blood and Beauty) was superbly narrated, making this even more irritating and jarring to the ear
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Kindle Customer
- 23-09-18
Sarah Dunant at her best
One of the most riveting and absorbing works of historical storytelling I have read this year. Dunant's understated yet compelling style smooths the path into the minds and times of the Borgia family, giving a clear and understandable account of the complex politics and turbulence of sixteenth century Italy. I'm already looking forward to listening to it again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- The Curator
- 22-09-17
Intelligent historical fiction
Sarah Dunant writes beautiful, intelligent and well-researched novels but they're never dull or dry. Her characters are lively and i went away to find out more about some of them. I'd love a whole novel on Machiavelli's wife!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gadfly 23
- 19-06-22
Great storytelling but…
I tried audible to acquire this novel but found enduring the narrator’s Italian accents deeply off putting.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Peter
- 11-04-18
Mediocre
It lacked substance and vibrancy, I wanted it to be better. I wasn’t rooting for anyone and didn’t get a sense of the period.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- OC
- 19-10-17
Historic Novel with a rushed ending
Historic Italy setting is very well portrayed however it is a bit journal-like. The Borgia characters are not really very deep, also the ending felt a bit rushed- not a fan of the epilogue. Still not a bad listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful