Classic Books Library presents this brand new edition of Machiavelli´s political treatise entitled, ´The Prince´ (1532). The work notably advocates the power of human action and free will - unusual ethical concepts in the political landscape of Florence that customarily favoured religion and ancient philosophies to explain society´s issues. Published after his death, it is commonly believed that Machiavelli wrote ´The Prince´ as a guide for rulers, namely Lorenzo Medici, who was not in power at the time. Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a Florentine politician, philosopher and historian. An influential figure during the Italian Renaissance, Machiavelli was instrumental in the development of Western political science.