Niccolo's Smile: A Biography of Machiavelli [Paperback]

Dr. Maurizio Viroli (Author), Antony Shugaar (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0374528004 | ISBN-13: 978-0374528003 | Publication Date: January 9, 2002

A vivid portrayal of the great Italian philosopher - now in paperback

In Niccolò's Smile, Maurizio Viroli brings to life the fascinating writer who was the founder of modern political thought. Niccolò Machiavelli's works on the theory and practice of statecraft are classics, but Viroli sugggests that his greatest accomplishment is his robust philosophy of life -- his deep beliefs about how one should conduct oneself as a modern citizen in a republic, as a responsible family member, as a good person. On these subjects Machiavelli wrote no books: the text of his philosophy is his life itself, a life that was filled with paradox, uncertainty, and tragic drama.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Machiavellian is a pejorative term suggesting serpentine scheming and use of immoral, ruthless means to achieve desired ends; those ends usually include the maintenance of power at all costs. Inevitably, it is often assumed that Machiavelli himself must have reflected and practiced these methods in his personal and public life. Viroli, a professor of politics at Princeton, effectively refutes that notion in this absorbing and surprising survey of a full, eventful life. Machiavelli was cursed to live in interesting but chaotic and violent times. In Viroli's view, his longing for a powerful ruler was not merely based on a cynical wish to see power exercised; rather, Machiavelli hoped for a strong and, if necessary, devious ruler who could rule effectively but also wisely and justly. In his personal life, he is revealed here as a caring, sensitive man who, contrary to expectations, was frequently ruled by his heart rather than his head. This is a compact and enjoyable look at a man far more interesting than his myth. Jay Freeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Elegant and accessible ... Viroli provides [a straightforward chronological account of events] in the pellucid Italian original, whose gracefulness has not been lost in Antony Shugaar's excellent translation ... The dramatics events of Italian political life and Machiavelli's participation in them ... determine the rhythm of his story." - Mark Lilla, The Washington Post Book World

"A welcome antidote to the clichéd image of self-interested knavery for which [Machiavelli] has become known ... Viroli succeeds ... in offering a fascinating portrait." - Alexander Stille, The New York Times Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hill and Wang (January 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374528004
• ISBN-13: 978-0374528003
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Machiavelli, Niccolo

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lively, Frank and Entertaining, November 19, 2000

By 

Jeffrey Wolf "postgraduate" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Niccolo's Smile : A Biography of Machiavelli (Hardcover)

Maurizio Viroli is a professor of politics at Princeton and i had the chance to take a class with him last year in which we read Machiavelli's 'The Prince' and his 'Discourses.'

Viroli brings the same charm, wit, and enthusiasm to this book as he did to that class. The words and the language Viroli has mastered are clearly those of an Italian--and in fact, this trivial insight provides much of the liveliness of the book.

Viroli traces the life of 'Il Machia' from his boyhood to his death at an old age. Through this political life, we see the rise and fall of the republic of Florence that Machiavelli was so keen on preserving, and some of the fascinating characters in Florentine history like Duke Valentino.

We also get an original glimpse into Machiavelli's love life (Viroli thankfully refuses to censor the more carnal but revealing phrases in Machiavelli's correspondence), and philosophy of life itself.

Overall, a fast-paced, generally pleasing read.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Michiavelli's Frown, December 27, 2000

By 

John Howard "innocent bystander" (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Niccolo's Smile : A Biography of Machiavelli (Hardcover)

A useful book, but it suffers the fate of too many translated works. The writing is flat, unemotional and strangely difficult to follow. Italian names trouble the English tongue and the narrative does not flow. Instead, the story jumps and jerks along as though someone edited it with a pair of tailor's scissors. For those of us not fortunate enough to have been born Italian (or to have sat in on Viroli's lectures), it would have been helpful to include a few maps and a glossary of the main characters and events.

This book has an undeniable charm and wit to it and is a valuable addition to our understanding of the life and times of Niccolo Machiavelli. It does not, however, take the place of a more comprehensive biography. I thought the smile business was overdone and would have preferred to hear more about his frown. In a word or two, I found this book slightly frustrating to read. But it did help me see more of the man and less of the demon. I loved the adage "It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret" that Machiavelli used to repeat to his friends. It made me smile.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Machiavelli as a human being rather than an epithet, August 26, 2002

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Niccolo's Smile : A Biography of Machiavelli (Hardcover)

This is a concise and lively account of Machiavelli's life. It provides the general reader with much needed context and background in order to read Machiavelli's works with any kind of understanding. While there are good scholarly works that can provide the feeling of more intellectual heft, this book should not be underestimated simply because it is easy to read and doesn't require weeks to read.

Machiavelli is one of those brand-name characters that evoke certain reactions in people in such a generalized way that people mistakenly believe they know something about the man and his work. This book can help debunk much of that received nonsense. It is surprising how "modern" a man he was considering he lived nearly 500 years ago.

The author has admiration for Machiavelli's skills as an analyst and as a diplomat, has sympathy for his personal suffering and disappointments, and forgiving in his attitude towards Machiavelli's human failings (the author might not even agree they were failings - they were just human). And that is the book's greatest contribution; it shows its subject as a human being rather than a caricature or a statue.

In any case, I found this to be a very valuable and entertaining book. I recommend it highly. You can draw your own conclusions about the subject and they author's conclusions. But you will have gained a lot in the process of coming to those (now better informed) conclusions.

There are a few helpful maps throughout the book and a suggested reading list at the end. The translation is terrific.