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Life of Castruccio Castracani (Hesperus Classics)

Life of Castruccio Castracani (Hesperus Classics)
By Niccolo Machiavelli

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Set amid the ferment and factionalism of early modern Italy, Life of Castruccio Castracani is a vivid and action-packed account of the rise and fall of a very "Machiavellian" prince. A charismatic warlord of the early 14th century, Castruccio Castracani came from humble beginnings as a foundling, and ended his life as ruler of Lucca, Pisa, Pistoia, and Florence. In this Life, Machiavelli extols Castracani for his acute understanding of the politics of warfare and statecraft, and while sparing no detail of his shrewd and often bloody tactics, he overturns our moral prejudice, depicting Castracani as a popular unifying force. Life of Castruccio Castracani is accompanied by selected passages from Machiavelli’s Florentine Histories to give a powerful, rounded portrait of the abandoned child who rose to become the most powerful man in Tuscany. Niccolò Machiavelli was a prominent Florentine politician and writer, whose greatest work, The Prince, has ensured his lasting fame.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1340565 in Books
  • Published on: 2003-10-01
  • Original language: Italian
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 88 pages

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About the Author
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 - 1527), was a prominent Florentine politician and writer, whose greatest work, The Prince, has ensured his lasting fame. Richard Overy is professor of history at King's College London and an authority on the Second World War. His works include The Road to War and Russia's War.

Customer Reviews

From the Master, but not a Masterpiece3
I'm a big fan of the real Machiavelli - not the stereotypical imagine most people have who have never read a word he wrote or may have read the Price without understanding the context in which it was written. That being said, if you really want the scoop on Machiavelli you really should read his Discourses on the First Twelve Books of Livy. I know, I know crappy title, but believe me it is the key to understanding this man's thought. If you have already read that and the Prince, then this isn't a bad book to pick up, but it really isn't amongst Machiavelli's masterworks.