The Prince

By: Niccolo Machiavelli, Tim Parks - translator

Narrated by: Simon Callow

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Simon Callow, actor and director, known for his roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, and the BBC adaptation of A Christmas Carol.


As a diplomat in turbulent fifteenth-century Florence, Niccolò Machiavelli knew how quickly political fortunes could rise and fall. The Prince, his tough-minded, pragmatic handbook on how power really works, made his name notorious and has remained controversial ever since. How can a leader be strong and decisive, yet still inspire loyalty in his followers? When is it necessary to break the rules? Is it better to be feared than loved? Examining regimes and their rulers the world over and throughout history, from Roman Emperors to renaissance Popes, from Hannibal to Cesare di Borgia, Machievalli answers all these questions in a work of realpolitik that still has shrewd political lessons for today.

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was born in Florence, and served the Florentine republic as a secretary and second chancellor, as ambassador and foreign policy-maker. When the Medici family returned to power in 1512 he was suspected of conspiracy, imprisoned and tortured and forced to retire from public life. His most famous work, The Prince, was written in an attempt to gain favour with the Medicis and return to politics.

If you enjoyed The Prince, you might like Plato's Republic, also available in Penguin Classics.

'A gripping work, and a gripping translation'
Nicholas Lezard, Guardian

Very well narrated

Very well narrated. Went much faster than I expected. An extremely enlightening book. Everyone should read/listen to at least once.

Great narration

The text speaks for itself and so I will not comment on it.

I will say thus is my favorite audiobook narrator that I’ve ever heard on any book.

Bueno

Easy to listen ,....... ....... ...... ......
quick paced very informative

good good good good stuff that was really interesting

Great Penguins Classics book

Excellent translator and narrator. He is what you imagined Makaveli would sound like.
I highly recommend

Well Done!

I had to read this book for school, and I expected it to be more boring than it was. I enjoyed the book and listening to the narrator really made me feel like I had gone back in time and Machiavelli was reading it to me himself (but in English). Thank you.