The Prince
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, published by Penguin UK on July 26, 2011, is a significant work in political philosophy. This edition, translated and edited by Tim Parks, presents Machiavelli’s pragmatic manual of statecraft, which explores the complexities of power dynamics and leadership. Written during a tumultuous period in fifteenth-century Florence, the text addresses critical questions about authority, loyalty, and the moral implications of political decisions.
Readers will find that The Prince examines various historical figures and regimes, providing insights into the nature of power and governance. Machiavelli’s analysis includes reflections on the balance between fear and love in leadership, as well as the necessity of rule-breaking in certain circumstances. This edition, consisting of 160 pages, offers a contemporary translation that aims to make Machiavelli’s original ideas accessible and relevant to modern audiences, while also including an introduction that contextualizes his life and the historical backdrop of his work.
Official synopsis Publisher
Niccolò Machiavelli’s brutally uncompromising manual of statecraft, The Prince is translated and edited with an introduction by Tim Parks in Penguin Classics.
As a diplomat in turbulent fifteenth-century Florence, Niccolò Machiavelli knew how quickly political fortunes could rise and fall. The Prince, his tough-minded, pragmatic handbook on how power really works, made his name notorious and has remained controversial ever since. How can a leader be strong and decisive, yet still inspire loyalty in his followers? When is it necessary to break the rules? Is it better to be feared than loved? Examining regimes and their rulers the world over and throughout history, from Roman Emperors to renaissance Popes, from Hannibal to Cesare di Borgia, Machievalli answers all these questions in a work of realpolitik that still has shrewd political lessons for today.
Tim Parks’s acclaimed contemporary translation renders Machiavelli’s no-nonsense original as alarming and enlightening as when it was first written. His introduction discusses Machiavelli’s life and reputation, and explores the historical background to the work.
Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was born in Florence, and served the Florentine republic as a secretary and second chancellor, as ambassador and foreign policy-maker. When the Medici family returned to power in 1512 he was suspected of conspiracy, imprisoned and tortured and forced to retire from public life. His most famous work, The Prince, was written in an attempt to gain favour with the Medicis and return to politics.
If you enjoyed The Prince, you might like Plato’s Republic, also available in Penguin Classics.
‘A gripping work, and a gripping translation’
Nicholas Lezard, Guardian
‘Tim Parks’s swift and supple new translation brings out all its chilling modernity’
Boyd Tonkin, Independent
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “The Prince” about?
Who is the author of “The Prince”?
When was “The Prince” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Prince”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
