Cesare Borgia, former cardinal, Duke of Valentinois and Romanga, tyrant and warlord, has been a figure of awe and scorn for generations. The romance of Borgia's tumultuous life has been the topic of romances, tragedies, operas, and films, television shows. Friend and patron to Leonardo da Vinci, his rise and fall inspired Machiavelli to write The Prince and Friedrich Nietzsche to write Beyond Good And Evil . Among those inspired by this prince of Italy was famed author Rafael Sabatini (Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk). In Borgia, Sabatini finds a real-life version of his fictional heroes—a brilliant man betrayed and wronged. Only this time, the man is not just wronged by his friends and foes. He is wronged by all of history. Compelled to explore this fascinating historical figure's true nature, Sabatini wrote a biography and a play. But his best work is in his favourite writing style: historical fiction. With characteristic Sabatini flair, the master of the genre brings Borgia to life as no one has before. Drawn to the passion, suspicion, betrayal, and ambition of Borgia's brief but exciting life, Sabatini presents seven short stories set during the Italian Renaissance: The Honour Of Varano, The Test, Ferrante's Jest, Gisimondi's Wage, The Snare, The Lust Of Conquest, and The Pasquinade. These stories are collected in the volume Sabatini entitled The Justice Of The Duke .