The Shame of Motley: Being the Memoir of Certain Transactions in the Life of Lazzaro Biancomonte, of Biancomonte, Sometime Fool of the Court of Pesaro

The Shame of Motley, published in 1942 by Rafael Sabatini, is a historical novel centered on Lazzaro Biancomonte, a former court jester seeking redemption in Renaissance Italy. Set against the backdrop of the Borgia family's political machinations, the story explores themes of identity, honor, and revenge as Lazzaro navigates his past and strives for a dignified life. The narrative begins with Lazzaro at the Vatican, awaiting an audience with the Cardinal of Valencia, which leads him into a web of intrigue that could change his fate.