Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) taught that politicians must be willing to act immorally. His name has become synonymous with ruthlessness, cunning, and hypocrisy. What lies behind this bad reputation? What views did Machiavelli really hold? These questions are answered by Quentin Skinner, an internationally renowned expert in the history of political thought, as he reads the major works The Prince, Discourses, and History of Florence in the context of the Early Modern period. This introduction, now in its fourth edition, has been translated into 14 languages. Skinner's interpretation is notable for its clarity.