The Tyrant
by Rafael Sabatini
Based on Sabatini's long history, The Lust for Conquest was included in The Duke's Justice collection. Like Sabatini's other work on Cesare Borgia, it is Macchiavelli's defense of the man who would serve as his model for the Prince. "Tirana" is the work of an author who is more familiar with a printed page than a scene. The game is full of very complex descriptions of costumes, characters, and scenes. The essence of the game is that Cesare Borgia threatens to capture the fortress of Soliniola. The lord's daughter, Pantasilea Speranzoni, incubates the site. His idea is to seduce Borgia and then catch him. They will then force Borgia to give up his lust for the conquest of Solinyola. The game is characteristic of Sabatini, because there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, and Borgia, being savvy and intelligent, is the character that Sabatini likes to write. This is not an intersecting game, but a deception drama. I will not assume that Tirana is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. Still, there are some truly touching passages in this fast-paced fun drama. And it's fascinating to watch Sabatini's mind work as he radically revises the story before the game and creates a completely different ending for everyone. (source: Jesse F. Knight)
