An Unlikely Prince: The Life and Times of Machiavelli

What a pleasure to have this new biography of Machiavelli. Until now my favorite was Vilari's, which is more than one hundred years old. I took a month to read Capponi's only because I was deliberately savoring it and didn't want it to end. His writing is clear and entertaining. Too often when dealing with Macchiavelli authors descend into impenetrable, overly erudite prose. Capponi brings him to life as a person. Capponi is a descendant (I don't quite know how) of Machiavelli and a member of the very old and influential Florentine Capponi family. I think only a Florentine and a member of its ruling class could really understand and appreciate Machiavelli so well. I would suggest that anyone new to Machiavelli, or one trying to understand his political thought, should read this biography first so they can put his controversial writings into the proper perspective. A superb job. It made my summer.