"A remarkable achievement. Fluent and accessible in its language and style, yet insightful in its analysis."
Description
Liberal thinker or immoral pragmatist? You decide…
Machiavelli has been among the most commented upon, criticized and feared thinkers of the modern world. Infamous for his support of brutality and repression as valid political instruments, he is often portrayed as the pantomime villain of political theorists. In this whirlwind tour of Machiavelli’s writings and eventful life, Nederman highlights the complexities in his thought, showing that he actually advocated democracy as much as dictatorship, debate as much as violence, depending upon prevailing political conditions.
Reviews
"Clearly written and ground breaking. A panoramic overview of the entire body of his writings. A must-read."
"A worthy contribution to Machiavelli studies. Drawing upon rich biographical material and a wide array of primary sources, Nederman persuasively illuminates the power and complexity of the Florentine’s political thought."
