The Prince (Paperback)

~ Niccolo Machiavelli (Author) "To His Excellency the Florentine Ambassador to his Holiness the Pope, and my benefactor, Francesco Vettori, in Rome..." (more)
Key Phrases: King of France, Cesare Borgia, Duke of Milan (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent, readable and vigorous translation of The Prince, but it is much more than simply a translation. The map, notes and guide to further reading are crisp, to-the-point and yet nicely comprehensive. The inclusion of the letter to Vettori is most welcome. But, above all, the Introduction is so gripping and lively that it has convinced me to include 'The Prince' in my syllabus for History of Western Civilization the next time that I teach it... Great price, too! And lovely printing and layout." -- Rachel Fulton, University of Chicago. "...lively and readable and makes the pithy, bracing, and forceful aspects of Machiavelli's thought accessible to nonspecialists." -- Michael C. Downs, Indiana University. "The best edition of The Prince that I have ever read. Wooton's translation is lively and easy to read, and his introduction is provocative and engaging." -- Angelo Louisa, University of Nebraska, Omaha. "...readable text in vigorous prose. I have not read a translation of The Prince into English that is more lively..." -- J H Hexter, Washington University.

Product Description

Notes, a 2-page map, an index, and an altogether remarkable Introduction by David Wootton, make this edition an ideal encounter with Machiavelli for any student of history and political theory.

Product Details

• Paperback: 83 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Pub Co (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872203166
• ISBN-13: 978-0872203167
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #61,830 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Machiavelli's The Prince, March 6, 2010

By	Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (VINE VOICE)

Machiavelli's work came about after the end of his diplomatic career. The contents lay out his reflections on how to rule. He includes such wisdom such as: It is better to be feared than to be loved. He notes two different types of leaders--lions and foxes, and speaks of the implications of each. As he notes in Chapter 18: "A prince must imitate the fox and the lion [and] must be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves."

There are many interpretations of this work. Is it satire, actually suggesting that a clever, nasty, feared prince is, in fact, likely to fail? Or a handbook for a leader? Or an effort to get in good graces with the powerful so that he could resume his career? Or. . .?

For the era, this is a fascinating work--especially read in juxtaposition with his Discourses. This represents a solid version of this classic work.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great translation!, February 25, 2010

By	politicalsciencephd "politicalsciencephd" (Linden, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

There are lots of translations of Machiavelli's The Prince out there, both in in print and online. I first came across this one in graduate school. After having read it several times since being introduced to it as an undergraduate in different forms (in anthologies, in the Portable Machiavelli, etc.), this happens to be the most accessible one. Its introduction is fairly detailed, so new readers to Political Theory may find it overwhelming, but for those who have some background it presents intriguing ideas.

0 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mc review, September 15, 2008

By	student 13 "student 13" (chicago. IL) - See all my reviews

I ordered this book for a college class. It arrived on time and in great condition.