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Synopsis
The Prince (Italian: Il Principe [il ˈprintʃipe]; Latin: De Principatibus) is a 16th-century political treatise written by Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli as an instruction guide for new princes and royals. The general theme of The Prince is of accepting that the aims of princes – such as glory and survival – can justify the use of immoral means to achieve those ends. From Machiavelli's correspondence, a version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus (Of Principalities). However, the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. This was carried out with the permission of the Medici pope Clement VII, but "long before then, in fact since the first appearance of The Prince in manuscript, controversy had swirled about his writings". Although The Prince was written as if it were a traditional work in the mirrors for princes style, it was generally agreed as being especially innovative. This is partly because it was written in the vernacular Italian rather than Latin, a practice that had become increasingly popular since the publication of Dante's Divine Comedy and other works of Renaissance literature.
Is The Prince appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This is a Renaissance political treatise that discusses moral compromises in leadership, including justifications for cruelty, deception, and violence as political tools. The content is intellectual rather than graphic, but it presents mature ethical questions about power and morality.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include manipulation, political violence, and war (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens interested in political philosophy, history, or leadership will find this a foundational text on strategy and power.