Florentine Histories: (New translation) Introduction by Harvey Mansfield, Jr. (Paperback)

~ Niccolo Machiavelli (Author), Laura F. Banfield (Translator), Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. (Translator) "THE peoples who live in northern parts beyond the Rhine and the Danube rivers, having been born in a productive and healthful region, often increase..." (more)
Key Phrases: humanist historians, thousand infantry, Messer Rinaldo, Messer Corso, Messer Tommaso (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Banfield and Mansfield's new rendition of the Renaissance humanist's study of Florentine history aims to supply contemporary readers with a literal, exact, and readable version of the original. . . . Machiavelli's concept of history and his purpose in charting the story of Florence and its leading families are thoroughly examined before the translators lead their readers into the substance of the social philosopher's arguments and into a work of literature that once again comes alive. -- Review

Review

This translation . . . of Machiavelli's thoughts on his native city is meant to be less colloquial and closer to the original than the typical translation. This highlights how Machiavelli used words (and thought) differently from us. . . . Machiavelli is too often remembered merely as the realist who took the morality out of `virtue.' As the Histories demonstrate, he was also a gifted writer and historian.
(Virginia Quarterly Review )

Banfield and Mansfield's new rendition of the Renaissance humanist's study of Florentine history aims to supply contemporary readers with a literal, exact, and readable version of the original. . . . Machiavelli's concept of history and his purpose in charting the story of Florence and its leading families are thoroughly examined before the translators lead their readers into the substance of the social philosopher's arguments and into a work of literature that once again comes alive.
(Booklist )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (August 3, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691008639
• ISBN-13: 978-0691008639
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #511,427 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, March 5, 2003

By	"mrtavarone" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Florentine Histories (Hardcover)

Macchiaveli shows in this book a great deal of his capacity to use history as an instrument of analysis of the politics. I would recommend the book, although I would also recommend to have read a couple of other Macchiaveli's works in advance in order to better understand his particular -and clever- way to analyze history. The Prince would be, in my opinion, the least of his workd that should be read in advance.