The Life and Times of Machiavelli

Machiavelli is at the forefront of Florentine politics between being appointed as second chancellor of Florence and losing his job after the Medici's return in 1512. In that period, you can see him really straining hard to defend his homeland. It would be a grave mistake for anyone to suppose that he was as severe as his reputation might lead us to suppose. He's actually tremendous fun. His letters, his private correspondence, abounds with in jokes, gags, funny stories, funny poems, things like that. Even today, even if you want a Renaissance chap, a Renaissance fan reading them, it's hard to suppress a little chuckle.