Machiavelli's Virtue

“[A] masterly new book on the Renaissance courtier, statesman and political philosopher.” —Roger Kimball, The Wall Street Journal

Uniting thirty years of authoritative scholarship by a master of textual detail, Machiavelli’s Virtue is a comprehensive statement on the founder of modern politics. Harvey Mansfield reveals the role of sects in Machiavelli’s politics, his advice on how to rule indirectly, and the ultimately partisan character of his project, and shows him to be the founder of such modern and diverse institutions as the impersonal state and the energetic executive. Accessible and elegant, this groundbreaking interpretation explains the puzzles and reveals the ambition of Machiavelli’s thought.

“The book brings together essays that have mapped [Mansfield’s] paths of reflection over the past thirty years . . . The ground, one would think, is ancient and familiar, but Mansfield manages to draw out some understandings, or recognitions, jarringly new.” —Hadley Arkes, New Criterion

“Mansfield’s book more than rewards the close reading it demands.” —Colin Walters, The Washington Times

“[An] outstanding contribution to Machiavelli scholarship.” —Choice

“[A] brilliant interpretation . . . [Mansfield’s] grip on the textual and contextual ramifications is little less than awe-inspiring.” —Kenneth Minogue, Times Literary Supplement