Reading Machiavelli : scandalous books, suspect engagements, and the virtue of populist politics - McCormick, John P., 1966- (Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, 2018)
Introduction. Vulgarity and virtuosity: Machiavelli's elusive "effectual truth" -- Part I. The passion of Duke Valentino: Cesare Borgia, biblical allegory, and The Prince -- "Keep the public rich and the citizens poor": Economic inequality and political corruption in the Discourses -- On the myth of a conservative turn in the Florentine histories -- Part II. Rousseau's repudiation of Machiavelli's democratic roman republic -- Leo Strauss's Machiavelli and the querelle between the few and the many -- The Cambridge school's "Guicciardinian moments" revisited -- Summation. Scandalous writings, dubious readings, and the virtues of popular empowerment -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Keywords: Machiavelli, Niccolo, -- 1469-1527 -- Criticism and interpretation; Populism -- History -- To 1500.; Populism -- History -- 16th century; Philosophy