Lusts of the Borgias [Paperback]

Marcus Van Heller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1992

Italy, during the Renaissance, was a time of culture but also of uninhibited corruption. And no powerful family of the age was more depraved than the infamous House of Borgia. "One of the few historical erotic novels worthy of being called a classic".--Evergreen Review.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Pub; First Edition Thus edition (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881848298
• ISBN-13: 978-0881848298
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,897,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good erotica; history buffs steer clear, November 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lusts of the Borgias (Paperback)

This book shows mr. Van Heller in classic form (no pun intended). Most of the scenes are very exiting, if you don't mind the odd incestuous scene, because we all know what those Borgias were like. As to the story, it is well written albeit historically a total mess (I bought this book in a set with two serious books about the Borgias). Great one-handed reading if you weren't planning on using the other hand for making notes for your thesis.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of erotica re-printed, December 1, 2003

By 

Rudolf Spoerer "dowadiddi" (Weston, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lusts of the Borgias (Blue Moon) (Mass Market Paperback)

The Lusts of the Borgias was originally published as a 2 volume book, and has been oput in print for years, most notably Caroll & Graff book 'Sweet Friction'

Vol 1 - Is the story of the most famous of Italian harlots, Lucrecia and how she was seduced by and did herself in fact seduce her own father and brothers and parctically anyone, both male and female that came within a breath of this vixen .... Lucrecia had two brothers, the cruel and captivating Cesare and the youngest, and favorite of everyone, Giovanni.

When Cesare caught Lucrecia and Giovanni in bed it was easy work for cesare to have the youngest brother killed by a gang of thughs the very next morning ....

The seduction scenes are so well written the reader almost vicariously feels like a participant.

Vol 2 - As well a full length book deals primarily with
the escapades of Cesare and his battles both in and out of the bed as he raped and pillaged his way across Italy during the, I believe Rennaisnace period.

During his escapades he captures a citadel under the absolute control of a very cruel unapproachable, supposedly fridgid countess. Once Cesare storms and captures the citadel the
ensuing rape and control of the countess is perhaps some of the most erotic of all writings .. bar none .... and ... trust I've read a lot of them .....

Make this book part of your erotic library and you will read it over and over and over

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great one-handed read......., January 26, 2007

By 

Kiwi (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Lusts of the Borgias (Blue Moon) (Mass Market Paperback)

Outstanding erotic novel which should have been published on plastic sheets rather than on paper (the stains baby, the stains...). All humor aside (well, maybe not...), Van Heller has an incredibly descriptive way with words which will have you unable to put this book down until you've come to the end. Glaring historical inaccuracies aside (but then, we're not studying for an exam on the Borgia's here), the book starts of with Lucrezia's seduction by Cesare (the hero of Machiavelli's "The Prince" incidentally) and a follow-up by her father and then the younger brother, Giovanni. Sort of a classic "all-in-the-family" story.

We then see Lucrezia disposing of a Pope (you may use your imagination as to the how). Cesare branches out into a little rape and murder on the side and then has his brother Giovanni murdered after he discovers what's going on between his younger brother and his sister. The book then goes on to chronicle a selection of Cesar's sexual escapades up to his death.

The sex scenes are very well-written, it's an erotic masterpiece and one well-worth adding to your library. Not for staunch Catholics (the Papal scenes might be a little upsetting) or for those who find the inter-mixture of sex and violence objectionable. And now, if you like this book, you'll find "Venus in India" a charming little read. Take my word for it :)

Interestingly, Marcus van Heller was a pseudonym for Hugh Zachary, (born 1928 - ), who wrote prolifically underr a whole series of names - he was aka Peter Danielson (with Franklin King and James Reasoner and George Warren), Zach Hughes, Evan Innes, Peter Kanto and Marcus Van Heller.