Synopsis
In his most famous work, THE PRINCE (Il Principe), Machiavelli described the ideal prince and encouraged the people of Italy to imagine what it might be like if such a person led a unified Italy. Written in 1513 and published posthumously in 1532, THE PRINCE has been interpreted both as a genuine handbook for potential rulers and as a satirical portrait of certain prevailing styles of leadership of the time. Instead of advocating a sense of moral obligation to one's constituents, Machiavelli believed that it is far better for a leader to be feared than liked. He believed that the ends justify the means, and deceit, ruthlessness, and greed are acceptable in the interest of maintaining power. Though THE PRINCE may have influenced Hitler and Mussolini, the Machiavellian principles outlined in it have earned the work a place on many, if not most, lists of required reading for government and political science courses.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1992-09-21 | | Series: | Dover Thrift Editions Series | | Edition Description: | Reprint |
| Size | | Length: | 71 pages | | Height: | 8.3 in | | Width: | 5.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.2 in | | Weight: | 2.4 oz |
Publisher's Note
That Machiavelli's name has become synonymous with cold-eyed political calculation only heightens the intrinsic fascination of The Prince - the world's pre-eminent how-to manual on the art of getting and keeping power, and one of the literary landmarks of the Italian Renaissance. Written in a vigorous, straightforward style which reflects its author's realism, this treatise on states, statecraft, and the ideal ruler is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how human society actually works.
Industry Reviews
"If you're going into the trade or the business I'm in, Machiavelli's The Prince is the bible. You'd better read it, and you'd better reread it. The wisdom contained in that book stands you in good stead, for the nature of the public policy options that I exercise, and the techniques that are employed, and the assessment of your competition. I would recommend that to be read over, and over, and over, until death."
Hon. Willie L. Brown Jr.
An inexpensive but high quality translation of the classic Italian
Renaissance statement of what has come to be called realpolitik. The
translator, Paul Sonnino, presents an easily readable English but
also takes care to render Italian words into English cognates or at
least to use the same word consistently so the reader gets a sense of
what terms and concepts Machiavelli repeated and in what context.
Lightly annotated. Paper edition (unseen), $9.95.
Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Reference & Research Book News (08/01/1996)
An inexpensive but high quality translation of the classic Italian Renaissance statement of what has come to be called realpolitik. The translator, Paul Sonnino, presents an easily readable English but also takes care to render Italian words into English cognates or at least to use the same word consistently so the reader gets a sense of what terms and concepts Machiavelli repeated and in what context. Lightly annotated. Paper edition (unseen), $9.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Reference & Research Book News (08/01/1996)
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