Machiavelli

"Machiavellian" is an insult. Who was Machiavelli?

Niccolò Machiavelli worked for Florence, traveling to meet rulers whose decisions could put his city in danger. He listened to their promises and watched what happened afterward. His reports brought news of those rulers' intentions back to the city he served.

Cesare Borgia gave him plenty to think about. Borgia could charm the people plotting against him and turn a friendly meeting into a trap. Yet the power he assembled could come apart when illness and the loss of support left him exposed. Cleverness did not make him invulnerable.

This illustrated chapter book introduces Machiavelli through his life and selected political ideas. Historical episodes sit beside examples from a child's world, making problems such as flattery and unreliable allies easier to examine. Why listen to an uncomfortable truth when praise is more pleasant? How much can preparation protect you from luck?

The portrait also reaches beyond The Prince. In his writing about republics, Machiavelli considered how arguments between groups could help preserve freedom. A man associated with advice to rulers also had reasons to value limits on their power.

Black-and-white illustrations and pronunciation guides accompany the narrative and explanations. For readers curious about who gets listened to, who gets obeyed, and why, the appeal is in following an observant writer as he tries to make sense of the people in charge.

Ages 6-10 · 84 content pages · 22 black-and-white illustrations · Chapter book

Content note: Includes a church attack with panic, political betrayal and entrapment, imprisonment, war, and brief references to death, including a classroom example about a dead pet. No torture is described.

Also available for Ages 0-4 (The Fox and the Lion) and Ages 3-7 (How to Prince and Princess).