Exploring both the political and intellectual contexts within which Machiavelli's political vision was formed, Mikael Hornqvist stresses the classical and rhetorical character of Machiavelli's thought. He analyzes his preoccupation with glory and liberality in relation to the revival of Roman ideas of triumphalism. The result is a revealing account of the formation of Machiavelli's characteristic preoccupations. "A learned and intriguing book." CHOICE "Every student of Machiavelli should find this engaging and careful study of Machiavelli's most widely read book highly thought provoking and worthwhile." - Robert Eden, Hillsdale College "Mikael Hornqvist's book thoughtfully situates Niccolo Machiavelli in historical context and offers many careful, subtle, detailed readings of his works...what I admire most about this book is the meticulousness of Hornqvist's readings' these are the real payoff of this rewarding study." American Historical Review Wayne A. Rebhorn, University of Texas, Austin The political theory of Machiavelli, his characteristic preoccupations and how those came to be formed. Mikael Hörnqvist teaches in the Department of the History of Science and Ideas at Uppsala University in Sweden.