The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli - Detailed Analysis

"The Prince" is perhaps Niccolò Machiavelli’s most renowned and influential work. Written in 1513, during a period of political exile, it was not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. The book is a treatise on political power, addressed to Lorenzo de’ Medici, a member of the ruling family of Florence. "The Prince" is characterized by its departure from the traditional moral and ethical considerations that had previously dominated political thought. Instead, Machiavelli provides a practical guide on rulership, grounded in realism and the often harsh realities of political life.