
The book is one of drama on a grand scale a Renaissance epic as Christendom emerged from the shadows of the calamitous 14th century. The sweeping tale involves inspired & corrupt monarchs the finest thinkers the most brilliant artists & the greatest beauties in Christendom. Here are the stories of its most remarkable women who are all joined by birth marriage & friendship & who ruled for a time in place of their men-folk: Lucrezia Turnabuoni (Queen Mother of Florence the power behind the Medici throne) Clarice Orsini (Roman princess feudal wife) Beatrice d Este (Golden Girl of the Renaissance) Caterina Sforza (Lioness of the Romagna) Isabella d Este (the Acquisitive Marchesa) Giulia Farnese (la bella the family asset) Isabella d Aragona (the Weeping Duchess) & Lucrezia Borgia (the Virtuous Fury). The men play a secondary role in this grand saga; whenever possible the action is seen through the eyes our heroines. These eight women experienced great riches power & the warm smile of fortune but they also knew banishment poverty the death of a husband or the loss of one or more of their children. As each of the chosen heroines comes to the fore in her turn she is handed the baton by her sister & Leonie Frieda recounts the role each woman played in the hundred-year drama that is THE DEADLY SISTERHOOD.