Customer Reviews

Then & Now

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This historical novel seems a digression from Maugham's normal run of work. As such, it effectively recreates a trip taken my Niccolo Machievelli, representing his native city of Florence, and a young aide, to negotiate with Cesare Borgia. Machievelli and Borgia's characers are realistically portrayed, along with the constant intrigue, deception and treachery as practiced among the powerful, and others, in the Italy of the city states. A sub-plot involving Machievelli's hoped-for seduction of his host's attractive young wife is also believable: he sees the affair as an extension of politics, and the reader is given a view of the views suffered by women of that bygone era. In sum, this book is definitely readable, and recommendable.

Now and then I try out an author I haven't read in the past. And this was my first foray into W. Somerset Maugham.

I have to say this thin, well-written novel was a pleasant surprise, even if I am only giving it 3 stars. The story centers on Machiavelli, noted infamous historical figure, and a diplomatic journey to enter into a discourse with Caesar Borgia.

His companion for his journey is young Piero, a (seemingly) innocent admirer of Machiavelli along to learn and observe. Machiavelli is lulled into a sense of comraderie with his young companion, who flatters him along the way.

But Machiavelli bargains for more than he gains when he falls in love with a married woman on his mission, and enlists Piero's aid in realizing his overwhelming passion for this girl.

My only criticisms for the book are that with two such different plot-lines, it's difficult to determine why Maugham took such an apparent departure from his normal genre to write it. The development of Caesar Borgia is lacking, also, even if what is written is historically accurate...to have such a powerful character in your novel, it seems a waste not to develop them further.

Maugham writes a historical fiction story set in the early 1500's in Italy. He uses Renaissance-era politician / writer Machiavelli as his main character. Machiavelli is sent from Florence as an ambassador to a warlike Duke. While working there he is in the middle of danger as the arious states of Italy war with each other.

However, aside from his dispensing his political wisdom, Machiavelli falls in love with the Duke's highest man's wife. Maugham has painted Machiavelli as a man loyal to Florence but who is not immune to the pleasures of the flesh. Machiavelli uses suberterfuge and cunning to attempt to win the woman into bed. However, things don't work out exactly as he had hoped and his situation winds up to be a comedy.

This is a colorful book and certainly different from many I've read. I wasn't familiar with Italian Renaissance history (other than a cursory knowledge) and it hindered me. At times it was a bit hard to follow. Machiavelli does have some words of wisdom, probably coming from his "The Prince" book that is still read today. He struck me as a licentious Confuscious. Maugham has strong writing skills however I think the background and political confusion turned me off. Maugham title comes from the fact that corruption, affairs, and such occurred back then as they do today.