Throughout a tumultuous half-century the Borgias held center stage in the Italian Renaissance as ruthless popes, statesmen, warriors, lovers, and political adventurers. Five centuries after their fall they remain symbols of the depths to which humanity can descend—but did these Borgias of legend actually exist? Sweeping aside the gossip, slander, and distortion that have shrouded the Borgias for centuries, the author of The Tudors and A World Undone here offers a unique portrait of the infamous Renaissance family and their world.

"Many accounts of the Borgias focus on the most scandalous stories about this powerful Italian Renaissance family.... Meyer argues that many of these salacious tales are untrue…. Through a logical and thoughtful examination of sources … he shows that claims of corruption, poisoning, incest, and murder are untrue or greatly exaggerated."—Library Journal