The Prince

This is a completely new translation of Machiavelli's "The Prince" in a modern English that seeks to give the straightforward immediacy of the original; it comes complete with a long introduction describing the genesis of the original, its history in English editions and its influence on English literature. In particular it considers Machiavelli's interest in the psychology of leadership and the meshing of different personalities with different historical circumstances. There is also an extended analysis of translation problems related to the text with particular attention to those problems that arise from the text's extraordinary reputation. Various translations are analysed, showing how translators have been influenced by expectations of what Machiavelli said, sometimes ignoring what is actually written.