THE POPE'S DAUGHTER

Felice della Rovere was born in 1483 into an extraordinary time in Rome'shistory, its new Golden Age, the High Renaissance. Felice was to witnessMichelangelo paint the Sistine Ceiling, her father Pope Julius II lay thefoundation stone for New Saint Peter's, and herself immortalized byRaphael in the frescoes in the Vatican Palace apartments. But she was noreticent bystander. When she became regent, Felice fought off all attemptsto interfere with her rule, engaging in a bitter feud with her stepsonwhich culminated in murder. Caroline Murphy sheds fascinating light onFelice's daily life - how she dealt with squabbles amongst servants, whyshe always knew the exact contents of her wine cellar, and her advice onthe best way to bribe a Pope.