Finished by his partner Carol Gino, due to the Puzo’s death, The Family is a historical thriller set in Rome during the 15th Century, and is about the dramatic lives of the Borgia family, and their struggle for, and with, power.
Rodrigo Borgia is a cardinal in the Vatican, with hopes of securing a strong and prominent life for his family by becoming Pope, and uniting the papal states. During the 15th Century, life as a man of the cloth was different to the modern interpretation. Whilst it was still frowned upon to have a public-private life, cardinals, and even the Pope, could have mistresses, children, and their own family unit. Rodrigo was a man who enjoyed the pleasures of the world, and he bore several sons and a daughter. It was these children, along with his favourite courtesans Vanozza and Julia Farnese, that Rodrigo wished to protect. When he becomes Pope Alexander VI, the Borgia family rises to a new status, and their influence over Rome becomes considerable, but it also ushers in a new wave of enemies. In order to maintain the balance of his holy life and his family, Alexander must make decisions that will shape the futures of his children, and risk not only mortal danger, but eternal damnation.
It is an excellent book, one that plays out like a well written war novel. The main characters are well developed and intriguing, and the storyline has a tempo that is unrelenting. Puzo’s penchant for classic themes such as family, loyalty, vengeance, and murder is undeniable, and he applies those themes to a fresh setting. Rather than the streets of modern America, or the rural splendour of Sicily, The Family encompasses all of 15th Century Italy, as well as neighbouring countries such as Spain and France. While the setting of this story is very different to other Puzo novels, such as The Godfather or The Sicilian, the essence is still the same. Murder, treachery, and vengeance are entwined with the beauty of the landscape, and Italian culture. One cannot help but admire Puzo’s passion.
One of the main criticisms of the book, is that it tries to cover too many events that development of side characters seems sparse, and many of the locations go without description. Another issue with the book are the events which go unexplained, this may be due to the author’s demise before he could finish writing, but several key happenings are left with a question mark at the end.
Mostly, though, this is an excellent example of Puzo’s genius. For anyone who has visited Italy, and loved it, I suggest poring through the author’s back catalogue, simply for the complete devotion that Puzo holds for the nation. The characters in The Family are engaging, and the way their lives are shaped by this figurehead is both poignant and heartbreaking.
A powerful novel that takes issues as old as time, and a setting that seems ancient to the modern reader, and throws them into an action packed, volatile story.
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