The Prince

Machiavelli has been a controversial figure ever since his writings were published at the close of the Renaissance. This is due to the frank and forthright nature of the guidance to prospective rulers he shares in The Prince. Not much is sacred for Machiavelli, and he does not shrink from advising about things like manipulation of public opinion, deception of the gullible, or the use of violence for political purposes.

As a result of this, he has been variously called the first realist, the first modern political scientist, an evil man or a satirist, and many things besides. Whatever his personal qualities, it remains true that The Prince has provided lasting and valuable lessons in the realities of power ever since its publication in 1532.

With Machiavelli’s writings, understanding his circumstances in the turbulent late-renaissance Italy is especially helpful. We offer our readers a detailed author section to assist with this, featuring a classic analysis of Machiavelli by Thomas Macaulay from 1850.