Machiavelli: A Man Misunderstood

.. that write what men do, and not what they ought to do, ` (Francis Bacon `The Advancement of Learning' 1605) Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an extraordinary man living in tumultuous times. While he is most famous today as the author of `The Prince' (not published until after his death), his other works include `The Art of War', eight volumes of Florentine histories as well as poems and plays. In respect of his writing Machiavelli was better known as a comic author during his lifetime because of his plays `Mandragola' and `Clizia'. `The Prince' was based on observations of Cesare Borgia. Its brutal truth: that leaders who are prepared to be ruthless are those who are successful may not be palatable be accurately reflects Machiavelli's experience. This book looks beyond `The Prince' to the man Niccolo Machiavelli himself and the times in which he lived. Renaissance politics, the roles of various popes and of the Medici family are part of the backdrop. In Machiavelli's vision of an ideal government, the people (not a collective whole, but a small powerful elite) worked with the ruler. This is not democracy as most of us understand it today, but neither is it tyranny. It is ironic that Machiavelli is best remembered for his observations in `The Prince' when for much of his life Machiavelli effectively served the government of Florence. I think that Machiavelli has been misrepresented and misinterpreted over the past 500 years, which has led to some (at least) misunderstanding. But to really appreciate the man and his work, it is necessary to appreciate the times in which he lived and understand that reputations can be made and destroyed by the capricious nature of politics. I enjoyed this book and learned from it. It contains a timeline for the life and times of Machiavelli, a list of his principal works and references for those moved to learn more. Jennifer Cameron-Smith