About Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince on The Art of Power
With a scene-setting historical introduction, this newly translated and illustrated edition of a classic work is an essential addition to any home library.
Written in 1512, The Prince is the masterpiece by Florentine political philosopher, poet, and playwright Niccolò Machiavelli. Although Machiavelli’s book has been frequently misunderstood as a manual for unprincipled manipulators and tyrants, careful reading reveals that it actually identifies freedom as an essential characteristic of a good society. In fact, much of Machiavelli’s republican thought can be identified in the American constitution, and many of his ideas—such as the belief that life is subject to change and that the winners will be those flexible enough to adapt—remain as applicable today as they were half a millennium ago.
Cary J. Nederman was born: May 6, 1957 in Pittsburgh, PA. Nederman is professor and director of graduate studies in the department of political science at Texas A&M University, College Station. His research concentrates on the history of Western political thought,… More about Cary J. Nederman
