Based upon Machiavelli's first-hand experience as an emissary of the Florentine Republic to the courts of Europe, The Prince analyses the usually violent means by which men seize, retain, and lose political power. This fluent new translation is accompanied by comprehensive notes and an introduction that dispels some of the myths associated with Machiavelli, and considers the true purpose of The Prince.

A new translation, the only English translation to be based upon the authoritative Italian text edited by Giorgio Inglese (1996), that is accurate, readable, and faithful to Machiavelli's style

The introduction by Maurizio Viroli presents Machiavelli's political thought in an original context, whose main purpose was the foundation of states and redemption of peoples, using oratory and rhetoric as his main tools.

The most comprehensive explanatory and critical notes in any currently available English translation

The most comprehensive bibliography in any edition of the work

Helpful Glossary of Proper Names, Index and map