'Having long reigned as the foremost interpreter of Machiavelli's thought, Harvey Mansfield offers a provocative examination of Machiavelli's significant, but overlooked, term- 'the effectual truth.' Mansfield finds monumental significance in Machiavelli's neologism, which shaped the history of modern political philosophy and hence our contemporary world. This is a challenging work, full of insight as well as wry humor that demands - but also rewards - reflection.' Vickie B. Sullivan, Cornelia M. Jackson Professor of Political Science, Tufts University
1. Machiavelli's succession problem; 2. Machiavelli's world; 3. Leo Strauss on The Prince; 4. The cuckold in Machiavelli's Mandragola; 5. Leonardo Bruni and Machiavelli on civic humanism; 6. Montesquieu and Machiavelli; 7. Tocqueville's Machiavellianism.