Evening star., 1947-07-13
SheToborger's
New Book Wins
High Acclaim
PRINCE OF FOXES
BY Samuel ShellabSrger. little,
BroDn & Co. S3.)
Reviewed by
CARTER BROOKE JONES.

If you like historical romances,
here's your book. This novel un-
doubtedly is the best Of its genre to
appear in long time; it merits
rank with the most spirited and
colorful any season.
prince of Foxes" Is a Literary
Guild selection. It's certain also
to be the choice of throng of
individual bookbuyers, perhaps a
greater number than purchased the
authors Captain From Castillo
which came out two years ago.
Mr.. Shellabarger may be con-
sidered an authority on the Renais-
sance. He has written not only
romantic fiction about the period,
but biography of the Chevalier
Bayard and other factual studies
A Phi. D., he taught English at
Princeton for years. There's no,
doubt of his scholarly grasp of
his materials. But there's nothing
pedantic about the way he uses
them. He's as sensitive to the
pace Of suspense, as keen for drama
and color, as any novelist.
Troubled Italy.
In his new romance, he turns to
Italy at the beginning OF the 18th
century, to the land where the
Renaissance started and found full
est expression. But II Italy, like
the rest of Europe. was at the
dawn OF what we call modern times,
it had not emerged entirely from
the long, turbulent night of the
Dark Ages. The country stirred
with creative activity. but the Bor-
gias were in power: the city states
seethed with strife and intrigue:
even the Vatican was a political
pawn.
With history setting natural
@tage, Mr.. Shellabarger has told
stunning story of paint brush and
ooniard, of courtliness and savagery,
of lovemaking and treschery.
Young, personable Andrea Orsini
lad to have a nimble mind and a.
ready sword or he wouldn't have
gone far in his quest for power in
that labyrinth of meaningless gal
I&k&
Orstni the Obscure.
He was the son of a blacksmith,
destined by implacable tradition for
a humble role in caste-bound So
ciety. But the youth had other
ideas. Favored with a great gift for
painting, he left his native village,
and came under the patronage of a
master. Andrea met famous per-
sonages. learned the ways of cour-
tiers. Yet he was not content to be
a painter, merely tolerated as an
artisan" in those strange times. He
took the name Orsini, pretending to
be from an obscure branch of
famous family, and became a soldier
in some of the wars constantly rag
ing among rival states. Thus he
came to the notice of Cesare Borgia,
the most powerful duke of the day.
Borgia. perceiving the youths cour-
age and keen intellect, employed
him for secret missions,
Borgia was spreading his dominion
all over italy. He coveted Ferrara,
over which the Duke d'Este ruled.
Andrea was sent. ostensibly to take
command of Estes palace guard, but
actually to bring about the marriage
of Estes son Alfonso to Borgia's
sister Lucrezia, recently widowed
owing to an unfortunate stabbing in
Rome. Andrea had not supposed his
mission would become known to the
reigning family Of Ferrara before he
even arrived. and that an attempt
would be made to assassinate him
before he crossed the border. But
those were hazards you could expect
Many Obstacles.
DEste preferred marriage for
his son that would mean an al
lance with France, but this design
also Andrea was able in his own way
to thwart. Andrea's reward was to
bs the rulership of the Cite del
Monte and the hand of its Lady
Camilla. The marriage would await
only the disposal-an easy matter in
those days-of Camilla's elderly
husband, Varano, the lord of the
Cite.
There were, however, many OBJ
stacles ahead, which Andrea en-
ccuntered in due course. 1t even
came about that he turned on the
exalted Cesare and fought beside
Camilla's husband. The young gall
liant was developing sense of justice
and decency rare in that era.
Prince OF Foxes" runs to great
length: that seems to be require
nent of historical novels. But I'll
wager any moderate sum that your
interest won't languish at any point