Just reading the author’s name is enough to conjure of visions of illustrious Italian power and wealth, as any history buff could tell you. But what you don’t expect is more than competent, even skilful, writing from a Borghese descendant who now makes a living selling a line of luxury pet products, and who is a New Yorker. The prince’s biography does not inspire confidence in his literary abilities, but he does have the most important qualification to produce a novel on this particular subject:- a direct line of descent from Pauline Bonaparte, Princess Borghese, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose tragic life and arresting beauty made her the femme fatale of her day. (Continue reading…)