THE FAMILY

Though THE FAMILY reads more like history than fiction, George Guidall compensates for some of the loss. For much of his life Mario Puzo admired the Borgias, calling them the original crime family. In this novel, however, though adhering closely to the factual record, Puzo narrowly misses the rich, multidimensional figures that the Borgias must have been. Nevertheless, Guidall reads with all the passion the text can muster: Pope Alexander VI, the paterfamilias, has a quiet passion and power; his son, Ceasare, commands with a more forceful, energetic voice; while Lucrezia's note is sweetness and gentleness. Guidall's real strength, however, lies in his characterization of the odd or unusual characters, like Alexander's faithful Michelotto, and in his careful, thoughtfully paced reading of the narrative. Though not great fiction and certainly not Puzo's best, this is a wonderful way to enjoy Renaissance history. P.B.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 02/ JAN 03]