Niccolò Machiavelli, the Florentine public servant and political theorist best known for his brief yet highly influential work of political philosophy, The Prince, was born on this day in 1469. Though the man’s name may be now synonymous with cunning and deceitful political tactics, the debate as to whether Machiavelli’s treatise is meant to be a
cold-hearted pragmatist’s handbook or a satirical take on tyrannical
leadership continues on in college seminar rooms across the globe.

In that spirit, the Yale University Press edition of The Prince places the text in context of its times, including extensive introductory and supplementary material for further discussion. For more fresh takes on classic works of political philosophy, browse the Rethinking the Western Tradition series at the Press’s website and check out Yale professor Ian Shapiro’s Moral Foundations of Politics, an excellent primer on the works that shaped Western thought.