A classic of the western tradition, Machiavelli's "The Prince" has influenced political and philosophical thought since its publication four centuries ago. Political power, Machiavelli taught, has no limits. It leaves no room for the sacred, and it subordinates right and wrong to success. In this new edition of Machiavelli's book, Angelo Codevilla provides a translation faithful to the original and sensitive to the author's use of verbal imprecision, including puns, double meanings, and the subjunctive mood. The volume includes an introduction by Codevilla that places Machiavelli in the context of his own times, demonstrates his relevance to the history of political thought, and inquiries into the place of Machiavelli's ideas in modern debates. This edition also contains three essays that explore some of the most important ways "The Prince" clashes with the other main branch of western civilization - the Socratic and Judeo-Christian traditions: "Machiavelli's realism" by Carnes Lord, "Machiavelli and modernity" by W.B. Allen, and "Machiavelli and America" by Hadley Arkes.
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was born in Florence. He served the Florentine republic as a secretary and second chancellor, but was expelled from public life when the Medici family returned to power in 1512.His most famous work, The Prince, was written in an attempt to gain favour with the Medicis and return to politics.
