The Tigress Of Forlì: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous And Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza De Medici (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
[I think I should put a trigger warning here, because I talk a bit below about my reaction to the author's portrayals of sexual violence.]I really enjoyed getting the various legends straightened out with this biography. It's easy to see why Caterina Sforza's "famous last stand" story is so iconic and romanticized - she really did most of it, and multiple times! You'd think someone would've eventually clued into the fact that she had an excellent understanding of fortifications and seige tactics, and a tendency to ride up to a big ol' castle and take it over on her own, hollering demands from the ramparts. But no! Attagirl. Quibbles: I was really put off by the author's overcompensation for some of the terrible sexual events in Caterina's life. Yes, it was a different time, when she would have been raised to expect little to no sexual autonomy. Yes, that was normalized to the point where she wouldn't have behaved outwardly like a traumatized victim. But the author really ASSERTS that her first experience (at TEN, one zero, 10) wasn't that bad, based on no first-hand statements that I could tell. Probably to keep readers from freaking out, but it had the opposite effect on me, especially since the facts (as stated by the author!) show that the situation was actually quite bizarre and NOT widely considered acceptable. Ditto her imprisonment by Cesare Borgia; the fact that she held her head up and seemed composed when others were present is no evidence that she wasn't hurt by his abuse. She absolutely HAD to behave that way to avoid being despised as a victim would have been. Again, I think the author just wanted us to understand how typical this treatment was for the time and not overreact, but that mission really failed. I don't think we have to ignore the times when she was made a victim in order to understand the times when she was unusually forthright and happy in her sexuality.ANNNNYWAY I'm still really glad I read the book. It was a fascinating view of a lot of the politics going on - a medium-powerful family is a good one to focus on to get a sense of the many machinations always taking place, especially when Caterina, smarter and stronger than her husband, had to make quick decisions to mitigate power shifts. Her later life, when she behaved very differently and less strategically, is also fascinating. A great read! There sure was some crazy stuff going on during the early Renaissance, This biography follows the life of one of the more intriguing people from those tumultuous times. A fast fun read, and educational, This book more-or-less agrees with other accounts I've read of Countess Caterina Sforza, and of the culture and European politics of the day. I recommend this story of this sensational woman to history buffs, or to anyone who enjoys fact-based biographies of interesting people.
What do You think about The Tigress Of Forlì: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous And Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza De Medici (2011)?
A great look at Renaissance Italy and the life of a truly amazing and fearless woman.
—mvitaterna
Engrossing and consuming bio of one of Italy's great renaissance ladies.
—sabrinaa
I have post-book depression from finishing this book I just want MORE
—Danna
