FRANKLIN LIBRARY LEATHER The Prince MACHIAVELLI

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FRANKLIN LIBRARY NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI THE PRINCE Illustrated by Quentin Fiore Beautiful Topgrain Leather Limited Edition FROM "THE 100 GREATEST BOOKS OF ALL TIME" COLLECTION More than 450 years ago, in 1513, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a short political treatise called The Prince . Few such modest works have generated such sustained controversy. The book has been blamed for inspiring some of the cruelest tyrants and some of the bloodiest episodes in European history. The name of the author has entered our language as a synonym for scheming, treachery, immorality, cynicism, intrigue. In every century since it was written, certain leading scholars, statesmen and churchmen have condemned The Prince . It has also been as extravagantly praised as it has been angrily condemned. Many have recognized Machiavelli as a realist and a keen political observer, who was simply describing the labyrinthian intrigues of Italian Renaissance politics. He has also been perceived both as a great Italian patriot and as a brilliant satirist.The Italian Renaissance was an extraordinary period in history, a stormy, enormously energetic age marked by wild contrasts and contradictions. During this period of unparalleled artistic and intellectual achievement, Italian political life was bloody and cruel; the same men who patronized artists and sought truth in the wisdom of the ancient Greeks and Romans thought nothing of butchering their enemies.Both the political viciousness and the heady cultural accomplishments had their roots in Italy’s peculiar political make-up. Unlike other European countries that were beginning to be unified under central monarchies, Italy by the end of the 14 th century was still divided into a multitude of independent city-states – each with its own government, economy and foreign policy. T was no one person or government to whom all Italians owed allegiance. Rather, the states battled one another for power, influence and territory, as Italy reeled under violent, bloody clashes, some trivial, some taking the lives of thousands. Every state had its exiles, members of ousted factions who were always eager to join forces with other states. Most states hired condottieri – leaders of mercenary soldiers – to fight their battles for them. The condottieri were always ambitious, often treacherous – some even seizing power in the very states that hired them.In The Prince Machiavelli prescribes the harsh policies and personal conduct of the ambitious ruler who seeks to win and to keep a kingdom. These policies and precepts have shocked many readers, as Machiavelli seems to eschew traditional Christian morality, viewing politics instead as a power struggle in which any means are justified to attain a desired end. The book is filled with such precepts as: The end is all that counts. It is much safer to be feared than to be loved, if one must choose. A wise leader cannot and should not keep his word when keeping it is not to his advantage… since (men) are wicked and will not keep faith with you, you are not bound to keep faith with them. Some habits which appear virtuous, if adopted would signify ruin, and others that seem vices, would lead to security and the well-being of the prince.Machiavelli dedicated his treatise to Lorenzo de’Medici, grandson and namesake of the man who 50 years earlier had guided the city of Florence through its greatest days. Machiavelli’s stated purpose in presenting Lorenzo with the work was to win his approval and, hopefully, a job. (Machiavelli had served the previous government, which had been overthrown.) The Prince contains 24 short chapters, which fall into five parts. In the first part (Chapters 1 –11), Machiavelli describes various kinds of states, and the means by which a prince can seize power and keep it. The focus of this section is Machiavelli’s analysis of his model prince, Cesare Borgia, (yes, one of those Borgias) and this pri... read more

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