Niccolò Machiavelli's brutal, uncompromising guide to statecraft, The Prince, is translated and edited by Tim Parks in the Penguin Classics edition, with an introduction. As a diplomat in the turbulent Florence of the 15th century, Niccolò Machiavelli understood how quickly political fortunes could rise and fall. The Prince, his pragmatic manual on how power truly works, made his name notorious and has remained controversial ever since. How can a leader be strong and decisive while still inspiring loyalty in their followers? When is it necessary to break the rules? Is it better to be feared than loved? By examining governments and their rulers throughout history, from Roman emperors to Renaissance popes, from Hannibal to Cesare di Borgia, Machiavelli addresses all these questions in a work of realpolitik that still offers keen political lessons today. Tim Parks' celebrated contemporary translation adds extra depth to this classic text.