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5.0 AVERAGE
5.0 AVERAGE
This book was on my to-read list longer than any other (from April 2014) & it did not disappoint. Lev has a writing style that is like a novelist's & some of the content must be speculative, but everything is carefully footnoted about this beautiful, intelligent & complex woman.
Lev's theory that Machiavelli's unflattering portrait of Caterina in [b:The Prince|28862|The Prince|Niccolò Machiavelli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390055828s/28862.jpg|1335445] springs from being worsted by Caterina in one of Machiavelli's early diplomatic missions. Lev very ably rebuts some of Machiavelli's allegations, but does not excuse some of Caterina's own excesses in the cruelty of the time.
This was very hard to put down - I can't remember another biography that I have wanted to start rereading straight away.
Highly recommended.
Lev's theory that Machiavelli's unflattering portrait of Caterina in [b:The Prince|28862|The Prince|Niccolò Machiavelli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390055828s/28862.jpg|1335445] springs from being worsted by Caterina in one of Machiavelli's early diplomatic missions. Lev very ably rebuts some of Machiavelli's allegations, but does not excuse some of Caterina's own excesses in the cruelty of the time.
This was very hard to put down - I can't remember another biography that I have wanted to start rereading straight away.
Highly recommended.