L'onore perduto di Isabella de' Medici

Published in 2011 by Garzanti, this historical biography by Elisabetta Mori seeks to dismantle the long-standing myths surrounding the life and death of Isabella de' Medici. The book emerged from a deep archival investigation into the daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici, who has been historically depicted as a tragic figure involved in a scandalous affair and subsequently murdered by her husband, Paolo Giordano Orsini, in 1576.

Mori, a scholar noted for her meticulous approach to Renaissance history, draws upon contemporary documents and correspondence to argue that the narrative of Isabella’s adultery and murder is largely a product of legend and political propaganda rather than historical fact. The work was well-received by historians and critics for its rigor in distinguishing verifiable archival reality from the romanticized tales that have colored the perception of the Medici family for centuries.