Recommended Translation: The Prince, trans. Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998, 2nd ed.) Originally published in 1532.
Harvey C. Mansfield Jr.’s translation of Machiavelli’s The Prince (2nd ed., 1998) is widely regarded as a standout version due to its combination of linguistic precision and philosophical depth. Mansfield’s translation remains faithful to the original Italian, capturing the subtleties, ironies, and provocative tone that are central to Machiavelli’s intentions. Known for its clarity, the translation renders Machiavelli’s often dense and complex ideas in accessible modern language without sacrificing their nuance. Mansfield’s expertise as a scholar of political philosophy further enhances the work, as his deep understanding of Machiavelli’s context and intellectual significance informs the translation.
In addition to the text itself, Mansfield’s introduction and annotations provide rich context, situating The Prince within Machiavelli’s life, Renaissance politics, and broader philosophical traditions. These features help readers grasp the historical and intellectual backdrop of the work. Moreover, Mansfield successfully preserves Machiavelli’s direct, forceful prose, retaining the rhetorical power and urgency that define the original. This translation not only faithfully conveys the text but also engages critically with it, offering interpretations that reflect decades of scholarship. For these reasons, Mansfield’s translation is celebrated as a definitive version of The Prince, ideal for both scholars and general readers seeking a profound engagement with Machiavelli’s political philosophy.
Chapter I: How Many Are the Kinds of Principalities and in What Modes They Are Acquired
Chapter II: Of Hereditary Principalities
Chapter III: Of Mixed Principalities
Chapter IV: Why the Kingdom of Darius Which Alexander Seized Did Not Rebel from His Successors after Alexander’s Death
Chapter V: How Cities or Principalities Which Lived by Their Own Laws before They Were Occupied Should Be Administered
Chapter VI: Of New Principalities That Are Acquired through One’s Own Arms and Virtue
Chapter VII: Of New Principalities That Are Acquired by Others’ Arms and Fortune
Chapter VIII: Of Those Who Have Attained a Principality through Crimes
Chapter IX: Of the Civil Principality
Chapter X: In What Mode the Forces of All Principalities Should Be Measured
Online:
Amazon.com (Recommended Translation)
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