Today, as I was on my way to yet another doctors appointment, I found myself in front of a charity bookshop with a massive sale sign in the window. I decided to pop in and see what their history section was like. And when I came out my purse was much lighter than it had been when I went inside! What I found was a plethora of beautiful books, and that was just in the history section alone - I didn't really have time to check out the fiction section - and I could have spent hours in there. In the end I picked up a few books that caught my eye, the Jasper Ridley one in particular is one I've had my eye on for a while but never gotten around to buying, and the Mary Tudor one by Anna Whitelock was one I picked up almost straight away. I've only ever read snippets on Mary so it will be nice to actually read a full scale biography. But it was the one at the top of the pile that got me excited, "At The Court Of The Borgia" by Pope Alexander VI's Master of Ceremonies Johann Burchard, and translated by Geoffrey Parker. You guys know me, I love the Borgia family and it will be really interesting to read something originally written by someone close to Alexander VI, and just how biased it is. Plus the front cover is actually gorgeous...
Not the best photo, blame my lame point and shoot camera, but it really is beautiful.
I have to say, I am really looking forward to getting stuck into these later on this year. I have a few to read before I start on them, but keep your eyes peeled for reviews when I finish them!
And you are going to review the Geoffrey Parker for us after you get a chance to read it, right?
ReplyDeleteJust teasing you! I like the topic too.
Love Charity shops, library sales, flea markets, and antique stores for finding the surprises when I wasn't even looking for them.
Thanks for sharing!