Nicholas Machiavelli's 'Prince'

By: Niccolò Machiavelli

Narrated by: Professor William Landon, Dr. Jeffrey Lupo

Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

This is a performance of the very first English translation of Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince. This translation, published by Edward Dacres, first appeared in 1640. Machiavelli's original Italian edition was printed in 1532, five years after his death. Due to the evil associated with Machiavelli's book, it took 108 years for The Prince to be published in the English language.

As you might have guessed, the 1640 translation's language is poetic, and this Audible edition strives to maintain its original 17th-century beauty.

This audiobook was created by Audiobook Professionals, LLC, who are: Professor William Landon and Dr. Jeffrey Lupo. Professor William Landon, your narrator, is an internationally recognized Machiavelli studies scholar and audiobook narrator. His narration was produced and engineered by Dr. Jeffrey Lupo, a consummate recording professional with over two decades of studio experience.

©2017 Audiobook Professionals, LLC (P)2017 Audiobook Professionals, LLC

An esoteric gem!

Unlike the earlier reviewer of this audiobook, who found the beauty of the 17th century English language to be the "worse" (I think that individual meant "worst") form of it, I found the language used in this translation and production of "The Prince" to be fascinating. Professor Landon's faithful and wonderfully listenable narration - he has an excellent voice - offers a glimpse into the ways in which Machiavelli's first international audiences received his advice. Yes, the language employed by the translator is sometimes very different from contemporary English; meaning that the listener sometimes has to think to understand the translator's full meaning... but good heavens, I can see nothing wrong with that! While it is not my usual practice to correct other reviewers here on Audible, it is essential for me to do so here, yet again, so that others who wish to buy this book will be able to do so with eye-wide-open. This edition of "The Prince" IS unabridged. It contains the complete text of "The Prince" AND it contains commentary by Edward Dacres, this edition's translator. I recommend this book without reservation to the discerning listener who appreciates historical texts and who enjoys being challenged.

First (& WORSE) English Translation of The Prince

Done in 1640, in the same style as the King James Bible - quite possibly the very worse form of the English language in it's entire history (so far). Like listening to Moby Dick as read by an East Indian from Delhi or a West Indian from Jamaica. Also, the translator did not limit himself to translating, but broadened his license to commentary on the body of the text, a task for which he had neither authority nor talent. That makes this edition ABRIDGED, not, as the Audible.com label announces: "Unabridged).