Selected Political Writings: The Prince, Selections from ‘The Discourses’, ‘Letter to Vettori

Here are The Prince and the most important Discourses, newly translated into spare, vivid English by one of the most gifted historians of his generation. Why a new translation? Machiavelli was never the dull, worthy, pedantic author who appears in the pages of other translations , says David Wootton in his Introduction. In the pages that follow I have done my best to let him speak in his own voice. (And indeed, Wootton’s Machiavelli literally does so when the occasion demands: Renderings of that most problematic of words, virtu, are in each instance followed by the Italian). Notes, a map, and an altogether remarkable Introduction, no less authoritative for being grippingly readable, help make this edition an ideal first encounter with Machiavelli for any student of history and political theory.