Winner of the Viareggio Literary Award and the Galante Prize in Italy upon its first publication in 1953 This celebrated biography is, in the author's words, 'an eternal feminine story swinging between consent and rebellion'. Part of the Women in History promotion

Maria Bellonci was born and educated in Rome. Married to the distinguished critic Goffredo Bellonci she wrote and sponsored literature throughout her life, through the Strega Prize and the Italian P.E.N. society, of which she was the Vice-President. With the publication of Lucrezia Borgia in Italy she won the Viareggio Literary Award and the Galante Prize. It was then published throughout the world to great acclaim. She wrote numerous distinguished works of history and also wrote for newspapers and radio.