PART ONE MACHIAVELLI AND FLORENCE 1 Florence and the Machiavelli family 2 Early life, education and first writings 3 Chancery career: Machiavelli and Florentine politics 4 The chancery years: diplomatic activities and literary production PART TWO THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE 5 The Prince: context 6 The Prince: message and meaning PART THREE THE RETURN TO CLASSICAL HUMANISM 7 The Discourses: context 8 The Discourses: meaning and significance PART FOUR MAN OF LETTERS 9 Poetry, theatre, narrative PART FIVE THE RETURN TO DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC SERVICE 10 Politics and history 11 The diplomat and adviser to princes reborn
Biography
Robert Black
"...[this book] is a very valuable resource for anyone who wants to approach for the first time the work and life of one of the most influential and controversial political thinkers." -Mario Prades Vilar in Sixteenth Century Journal
