Her name was Isabella, and she was the pampered daughter of Cosimo de' Medici, first Duke of Tuscany. Beautiful and intelligent, she was a gem in the sparkling world of 16th-century Florence. She had all the advantages wealth and position could buy, and few of the disadvantages suffered by most women in the Italian Renaissance. She was a popular hostess at the center of Florentine society and a doting mother of two.
Who would want to kill her? and why?
More than a Life Story
In this compelling biography, Caroline P. Murphy tells the story of the glittering and all-too-short life of Isabella de' Medici Orsini. The story begins with her father -- a profound influence in her life -- and expands to include her family and the complex web of political connections they would weave. Murphy is clear and straightforward, but carefully detailed, and the cast of characters is so vast it's hard to tell the players without a scorecard. (Seriously, you may want to write some of the names down to keep them straight.) The complexity is easily forgiven, however, in light of the sumptuous array of facts about the Medici family, Italian and international politics, and life in Renaissance Florence that Murphy sets before the reader.
The story never strays too far from Isabella, however. We see her childhood, her relationships with her family and servants, her growth into womanhood, her marriage, and her life in Florentine society. We witness victories and losses, alliances and alienations, illnesses and adventures. By delving into extensive correspondence, Murphy reveals how Isabella was regarded by courtiers of the day (usually quite fondly), and what she herself thought of her friends, her social circle, her family, and many of the public figures of the times. It's enlightening, fascinating, and at times downright juicy.
Daddy's Spoiled Girl?
As Isabella's personality was revealed, I soon realized that she was not someone I would have enjoyed spending time with. She was spoiled, self-centered, given to hypochondria (when it suited her) and headstrong. She enjoyed hunting (poor little Bambi!), gossiping, and practical jokes that were blatantly cruel. But, as with any historical figure, I found it necessary to view her from a different perspective.
Isabella was a noblewoman, and the daughter of a powerful man; she was literally entitled to certain prerogatives and respect from her peers by virtue of her place in society alone. Any parallels to spoiled, empty-headed high-school girls spending Daddy's money on overpriced clothes and disposable amusements had to be set aside. Isabella spent her Daddy's money on objets d'art that are priceless today, and took a serious interest in intellectual and artistic pursuits. What she might have been capable of in a culture less obstructive to female independence is an intriguing thought, especially since she enjoyed considerable independence of her own.
And even when I found myself disliking Isabella, I couldn't wish her dead. (Smack her upside the head, maybe, but not dead.) So who would really want to harm her? As her story neared its end, one candidate stood out so clearly (as he had almost from his introduction into her life), that I began to ask myself some obvious questions: Did Isabella bring this on herself? Could she have seen it coming? Could she have escaped her grisly fate?
Murder of a Medici Princess is a thoroughly-researched, intricately-woven, highly absorbing work. Caroline Murphy is careful not to draw unwarranted conclusions from the evidence, which she provides in abundance; yet she deftly explores the thoughts and feelings of her subject and the people whose lives she touched. She is aided in this endeavor by a plethora of previously unpublished and unexamined letters, written by Isabella herself, by friends and family members, by observers of the opulent society events she engaged in, and even by chatty foreign ambassadors. The result is a feast for anyone interested in Renaissance Florence, women's history, or simply a gripping story.
Beware the Spoilers
When I received this book, I not only avoided the reviews, I avoided the jacket flap, as well, which revealed Isabella's murderer and the circumstances that led to her death. I prefer to read a book "cold", and I'm glad I did, because Caroline Murphy let the story unfold without explicitly giving the crucial points away. Although this isn't really a murder mystery, I recommend a cold reading if you enjoy a well-spun tale. If you do happen to see a spoiler, don't worry; it's still a powerful story you'll have trouble putting down.Murder of a Medici Princess by Caroline P. Murphy
Oxford University Press
Hardback, 416 pages; includes a map of Florence, a Medici family tree, a bibliography, extensive notes and an index;
ISBN-10: 0195314395
ISBN-13: 978-0195314397
