The Ground is Burning by Samuel Black

Sixteenth century Italy is renowned for it's outburst of creativity in painting, sculpture and architecture but it took place against a background of terrifying violence.   Samuel Black has brought all of this together to create a fascinating novel which is told in first person by three of the most famous figures of the time.   First there is Nicolo Machiavelli the Florentine civil servant who wrote the cynical guide to power and it's execise entitled "The Prince" which he dedicated to Black's second character Cesare Borgia.   Cesare, the son of the Pope, is a Cardinal but wishes to leave holy orders to become Commander of the Papal Army.   However, this post is held by his older brother and as the story opens Cesare is arranging his brother's murder in order to replace him.   Having gained the position he coveted he recruits Leonardo da Vinci as a cartographer and military engineer although he also commisions him to paint a portrait of Dorotea, a young noblewoman he has kidnapped and seduced.   The story is told in a series of first person monologues, a style that took me some time to come to terms with but was well worth the perseverance.   This is a marvellous story of a terrifying era that had everything - sex, violence, treachery, torture, great art and more sex and Samuel Black brings it to life through the eyes of three of it's most colourful characters.   The main colour, of course, being blood!