Bed and the Throne, The; Life of Isabella D’Este
by George R. Marek
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Near Fine/Very Good
- Seller
-
Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Name inscribed FLEP, else appears as new, unread, unblemished, unopened copy in Fine brown board with DJ displaying minimal surface/edge/wear, as shown.
KIRKUS REVIEW: Marek's operatic style (he has done popular biographies of Puccini and Richard Strauss) is a natural for the Renaissance stereotype of high art, low eroticism, and murderous politics. Isabella, the little-known Marchesa of Mantua, doesn't compare with Lucrezia Borgia or the Sforza ladies in treachery or munificence; Mantua, after all, was a small principality. Marek casts her "as one of the first women who can truly be called liberated,"" a silly notion since Isabella wielded power in the usual feminine fashion--by flattery, charm, and sexual allurement. Married to an indecisive soldier, Isabella maneuvered constantly to preserve Mantua from the designs of the Borgias and their French allies. Even her admiring biographer admits that she was ""a master at flimflam, throwing perfumed dust in her enemy's eyes." In true Renaissance fashion, the enemies change with ever-shifting political alliances. But Isabella's chief claim to Marek's florid attentions is her avidity as a collector of art and antiques--she cajoled, threatened, and bribed to acquire tapestries, paintings, silver, and jewels. Isabella's correspondence, quoted at length, includes imprecations to Bellini, pleas to Leonardo, and constant reference to her possessions. She seems to have a shade more brains than most, but not enough to redeem this fancy bauble.
Insurance & handling is included free. Extra Charges/Fees apply on Shipments Outside The U.S. and Expedited Shipments. Oversize and/or heavy books may require additional fees. Will advise. Updated 3.10.2023 Biblio 9.23.2020 #1046-12719
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Eve's Reads (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- #1046-12719
- Title
- Bed and the Throne, The; Life of Isabella D’Este
- Author
- George R. Marek
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- BCE
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Harper & Row Publishers
- Place of Publication
- New York, NY
- Date Published
- 1976
- Pages
- 268
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- Historical Fiction
Terms of Sale
Eve's Reads
Shipping/Handling/Insurance/Tracking Included within the continental U.S. (Free Shipping). Extra Charges/Fees apply on ALL Shipments Outside The U.S. and Expedited Shipments. Oversize and/or heavy books require additional fees. Will advise and will send invoice via Paypal for extra charges.
About the Seller
Eve's Reads
About Eve's Reads
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Inscribed
- When a book is described as being inscribed, it indicates that a short note written by the author or a previous owner has been...
- Unopened
- A state in which all or some of the pages of a book have not been separated from the adjacent pages, caused by a traditional...
- Biblio
- The Greek root for a variety of words referring to the book, such as bibliography, bibliomania, etc. Also, one of the world's...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...