Conclave 1559

De: Mary Hollingsworth

Narrado por: Julie Maisey

Conspiracy, intrigue and faction-fighting as the future of Europe hangs in the balance: Mary Hollingsworth tells the extraordinary story of the papal conclave in 1559 - the longest and bitterest of the 16th century.

Tasked with choosing a pontiff to replace a previous incumbent (Paul IV) whose reign was marked by repression and brutality, and faced with the growing challenge of the Protestant Reformation, the conclave faced a critically important decision for the future of the Roman Catholic Church and was faction-ridden even by the standards of such polarised gatherings. France and Spain, both looking to extend their power in Italy and beyond, had very different ideas of who the new pope should be, as did the Italian cardinals.

Making meticulous use of the detailed accounts left by Ippolito d'Este, one of the participating cardinals (and the son of Lucrezia Borgia), Mary Hollingsworth relates the intrigue and double-dealing of the different parties trying to secure the required number of votes over the four months of this lengthiest of 16th-century papal elections.

©2021 Mary Hollingsworth (P)2021 W F Howes

great research

very well researched and detailed work. though being a history buff with "above average " level of knowledge of the subject I have foundation lots of interesting info in the book. Mary Hollingsworth is a true scholar.

Great theme, awful writing

Loved the theme; was very interested in learning more about this conclave.

However, this book is little more than someone going through diaries and/or written works that are readily available, and regurgitating them, right down to shopping lists Ann's other useless minutia.

All the elements of an exciting, dramatic recounting of this event are in place- yet the writer paints no real picture of the characters involved, instead offering a dull, plodding retelling, completely devoid of anything remotely gripping.

Rubbing salt in the wound, the writer, after turning what should have been the dramatic conclusion of the papal election into a much smaller event, then offers another hour-plus on the following six years, every bit as uninteresting as her storytelling so far.

I initially thought this book must've been edited extremely poorly- but I searched out a podcast with the author, and after hearing her disjointed ramblings for forty minutes, I'm convinced the poor editors did the absolute best they could with the material this author provided.

If you like detailed shopping lists, the value of the local currency, mind-numbingly similar storylines on page after page, then you'll love this book.