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soapdish14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
4.0
A readable biography about a truly fascinating woman.
Caterina Sforza was the illegitimate daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan and Lucrezia Landriani. As was usual of illegitimate children of the time, Caterina grew up in her father's home, raised by her stepmother Bona of Savoy.
I could be here all day telling you all the amazing – and sometimes ruthless – things Caterina did. She was married three times and gave birth to nine children. In 1484, while seven months pregnant, Caterina occupied the fortress of Castel Sant'Angelo after Pope Sixtus IV (her husband's uncle) died. She did this in order to guarantee safety and security to her family.
I admire how Caterina often stuck to her guns, even with a couple of ungrateful children, and then having the Borgias breathing down her neck – it was around this time that she gained the nickname Il Tigre. And after a tumultuous life, including being imprisoned, Caterina was able to have some peace with her children and experimenting with her hobby of alchemy. However, it didn't last long. She contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 46.
This biography of the great Caterina Sforza was, as I said, very readable. It wasn't stuffy at all, and the pages just flew by. Anyone interested in the Italian Renaissance and fierce historical women shouldn't be disappointed.
cindie's review against another edition
4.0
I’m watching Tom Fontana’s series Borgia: Faith and Fear, and can’t help but wish they’d get around to the Sforza family. I know they must, sooner or later, but I’m impatient. Ever since I finished Showtime’s The Borgias, I’m on a major Sforza kick. So when I saw that there was a biography about Caterina Sforza, I didn’t hesitate to download Elizabeth Lev’s The Tigress of Forli.
Gina McKee played Caterine Sforza on the Showtime series, and I fell in love with her character. She was strong and passionate, but to a fault. She was portrayed as the enemy (the show focuses on the Borgias, after all), but also with sympathy. I was looking forward to reading her biography to see how the writing of her character stacked up. The answer: for what they covered, it was pretty good.
Caterina Sforza was a strong, independent woman in a time where women were rarely strong and independent (sort of like The Widow Clicquot, I must have a thing for ladies-before-their-time). While, throughout her life, her family used her as a political pawn, she was determined to create her own destiny, and that’s the theme that runs through The Tigress of Forli.
Lev may emphasize her strength and skills, but she doesn’t shy away from her faults either: extensive parts are devoted to her shortsightedness, and the consequences of following her heart rather than her head. For this reason in particular, the biography seems pretty objective. Unlike Clicquot, whose early life is almost a mystery, Caterina Sforza was a force to be reckoned with from an early age; her correspondence, movements and relationships are well documented and Lev is generous with the source material.
Before reading The Tigress of Forli, I didn’t know much about Sforza except for her brush with Pope Alexander. After? Gosh, I think I appreciate her even more. Sure, she made some mistakes, but her strength, wit, intelligence and horseback-riding skills make her pretty admirable. Even though Lev doesn’t necessarily aim to make her a sympathetic heroine, Sforza’s actions are enough to speak on their own.
It’s not a long read, and it moves fairly quickly as Sforza’s life rarely provided dull moments to trudge through. If you enjoy biographies, the Renaissance, or plain old-fashioned girl-power, it’s worth checking out.
(Originally posted to my blog Mark It Read, copied/pasted for Goodreads).
Gina McKee played Caterine Sforza on the Showtime series, and I fell in love with her character. She was strong and passionate, but to a fault. She was portrayed as the enemy (the show focuses on the Borgias, after all), but also with sympathy. I was looking forward to reading her biography to see how the writing of her character stacked up. The answer: for what they covered, it was pretty good.
Caterina Sforza was a strong, independent woman in a time where women were rarely strong and independent (sort of like The Widow Clicquot, I must have a thing for ladies-before-their-time). While, throughout her life, her family used her as a political pawn, she was determined to create her own destiny, and that’s the theme that runs through The Tigress of Forli.
Lev may emphasize her strength and skills, but she doesn’t shy away from her faults either: extensive parts are devoted to her shortsightedness, and the consequences of following her heart rather than her head. For this reason in particular, the biography seems pretty objective. Unlike Clicquot, whose early life is almost a mystery, Caterina Sforza was a force to be reckoned with from an early age; her correspondence, movements and relationships are well documented and Lev is generous with the source material.
Before reading The Tigress of Forli, I didn’t know much about Sforza except for her brush with Pope Alexander. After? Gosh, I think I appreciate her even more. Sure, she made some mistakes, but her strength, wit, intelligence and horseback-riding skills make her pretty admirable. Even though Lev doesn’t necessarily aim to make her a sympathetic heroine, Sforza’s actions are enough to speak on their own.
It’s not a long read, and it moves fairly quickly as Sforza’s life rarely provided dull moments to trudge through. If you enjoy biographies, the Renaissance, or plain old-fashioned girl-power, it’s worth checking out.
(Originally posted to my blog Mark It Read, copied/pasted for Goodreads).
trejondunkley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.0
justabookholic's review against another edition
5.0
*4.5 stars
This was a fascinating and highly detailed account of the unconventional (to say the least) life of a woman who should be more talked about. I found Lev's writing to be easily digestible and the narrative she created to be one that makes it clear she did a great deal of research on not only the life of Caterina Riario Sforza de Medici but also the political climate of Italy during her life. Her family is not the only notable Italian house that was discussed. Additionally the changing papacies during Caternia's life were also detailed in this book, giving the reader a wider perspective of the political nature of Italy during the Renaissance. I found this to be an enjoyable and informative read although I did find some issue with the occasional use of poetic license that either the accounts the author referenced made or used herself.
This was a fascinating and highly detailed account of the unconventional (to say the least) life of a woman who should be more talked about. I found Lev's writing to be easily digestible and the narrative she created to be one that makes it clear she did a great deal of research on not only the life of Caterina Riario Sforza de Medici but also the political climate of Italy during her life. Her family is not the only notable Italian house that was discussed. Additionally the changing papacies during Caternia's life were also detailed in this book, giving the reader a wider perspective of the political nature of Italy during the Renaissance. I found this to be an enjoyable and informative read although I did find some issue with the occasional use of poetic license that either the accounts the author referenced made or used herself.
bookaneer's review against another edition
4.0
Truly a great (true) story about a strong woman who battled everything from thousands of invaders (once with her own sword), multiple assassinations, rape, years of imprisonment, marriages ended in tragedies, six children (at least two betrayed her due to their greed) - all during the Rennaissance era, where women's job mostly was to produce babies and stuff like that.
The early chapters are not as exciting as the rest. Maybe that is why I waited a long time before getting my appetite back in reading this excellent biography. But when I got to the part where she defended a fort with such a spirit and indomitable courage, basically taking over her husband's rule over Forli...it became a political and military thriller it was so exhilarating to read.
Side note: I used to dream living in Renaissance Italy because of its grandeur but now yeah no thanks. Too volatile of an environment. Constant fear of invaders either from neighboring city states or other countries. Bubonic and other plagues. Crappy rulers. Horrifying capital punishments. Bad treatment of women. Sorry but Michelangelo, Da Vinci and other artists are not sufficient incentives for me to live there in that era.
The early chapters are not as exciting as the rest. Maybe that is why I waited a long time before getting my appetite back in reading this excellent biography. But when I got to the part where she defended a fort with such a spirit and indomitable courage, basically taking over her husband's rule over Forli...it became a political and military thriller it was so exhilarating to read.
Side note: I used to dream living in Renaissance Italy because of its grandeur but now yeah no thanks. Too volatile of an environment. Constant fear of invaders either from neighboring city states or other countries. Bubonic and other plagues. Crappy rulers. Horrifying capital punishments. Bad treatment of women. Sorry but Michelangelo, Da Vinci and other artists are not sufficient incentives for me to live there in that era.
lilias's review against another edition
4.0
Caterina Sforza is deserving of a biography of her own, especially one written by Lev. This was excellent; well-researched and balanced.
schmidt05's review against another edition
4.0
What a book and what a Woman! Adventure, intrigue, romance and scandal. This book brought the fighting spirit of Caterina to life. A woman so uncommon for her time. Author Elizabeth Lev has done a brilliant job of bringing the world of Caterina Sforza to life. Beautifully written and a page turner; I would recommend this to the lover of nonfiction and fiction alike!
The only reason this book received 4 stars instead of 5 is that there is some historical information, especially regarding the Borgia's that I question is fully accurate to historical sources. Largely in regard to the Borgia family tree.
The only reason this book received 4 stars instead of 5 is that there is some historical information, especially regarding the Borgia's that I question is fully accurate to historical sources. Largely in regard to the Borgia family tree.