<P>Niccolò Machiavelli's <I>The Prince</I> is one of the most influential works in the history of political thought and the adjective Machiavellian is well-known and perhaps even over-used. So why does the meaning of the text continue to be debated to the present day? And how does a contemporary reader get to grips with a book full of references to the politics of the early 16<SUP>th</SUP> Century? </P>
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<P>The Routledge Guidebook to Machiavelli's The Prince </I>provides readers with the historical background, textual analysis, and other relevant information needed for a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic text. This guidebook introduces:</P>
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<LI>the historical, political and intellectual context in which Machiavelli was working</LI>
<LI>the key ideas developed by Machiavelli throughout the text and the examples he uses to illustrate them</LI>
<LI>the relationship of <I>The Prince </I>to <I>The Discourses </I>and Machiavelli's other works</LI>
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<P>Featuring a timeline, maps and suggestions for further reading throughout, this book is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to be able to engage more fully with <I>The Prince</I>.</P>