This volume in the "Founders in Modern Political and Social Thought" series presents a critical examination of Machiavelli's thought, challenging accepted interpretations of his work and arguing that his republicanism was based on the ideal of civic life protected by the shield of fair laws.

This book presents a critical examination of Machiavelli's thought, combining an accessible, historically-informed account of his work with a reassessment of his central ideas and arguments. Viroli challenges the accepted interpretations of Machiavelli's work, insisting that his republicanism was based not on a commitment to virtue, greatness, and expansion, but to the ideal of civic life protected by the shield of fair laws. His detailed study of how Machiavelli composed The Prince offers a number of new interpretations and he further contends that the most challenging--and underestimated--aspect of Machiavelli's thought is his philosophy of life, in particular his conceptions of love, women, irony, God, and the human condition.

Focusing on the eloquence and rhetorical structure of Machiavelli's writings, Viroli shows how they draw upon Quintillian and Cicero as well as on little-know Italian humanists. In this respect, the book is instructive./C.E.Butterworth/Choice September 1999 vol.37 No.1