Pope Pius II’s “the tale of two lovers”, an erotic novel, was the 15th century’s most popular book. 

Pope Pius II‘s “the tale of two lovers”, an erotic novel, was the 15th century’s most popular book.

“The tale of two lovers” is a prime example of an epistolary novel; one that appears as a series of documents.

The writer published the erotic imagery filled novel for the first time in Cologne between 1467 and 1470.

Set in Italy, the novel is about Euryalus and Lucretia who fall in love at a funeral. However, Lucretia has a much older, jealous man as her husband. The plot speaks of how they deal with that.

Read of another Lucretia who ended the Roman monarchy!