Title

Niccolò's smile : a biography of Machiavelli

Description

In Niccolo's Smile, Maurizio Viroli brings to life the fascinating writer who was the founder of modern political thought. Niccolo Machiavelli's works on the theory and practice of statecraft are classics, but Viroli suggests that his greatest accomplishment is his robust philosophy of life - his deep beliefs about how one should conduct oneself as a modern citizen in a republic, as a responsible family member, as a good person. On these subjects Machiavelli wrote no books; the text of his philosophy is his life itself, a life that was filled with paradox, uncertainty, and tragic drama.--BOOK JACKET.

Identifier

926652

374221871

Creator

Viroli, Maurizio

Format

1st American ed.

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

2000

Program air date: February 18, 2001

Publisher

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations
Notes on front endpapers: "Thurs., Nov. 30th, 11 a.m.. -- Florence; begin book: story of Heaven and Hell; [Savonarola]: a Dominican Friar, condemned corruption in Catholic Church, hanged 1498. N.M. was 29 at time, "profoundly corrupt papal court"; 28 May 1498: N.M. begins public service, nominated secretary of the Second Chancery (p. 28); the Ten of Liberty and Peace he was the secretary; Caterina - who was she? What impact on M.? - Pisans hated Florentines. - [Macchiavelli]:b. 3 May 1469, d. 21 June 1527. - What was Florence like? - The Medici: who were they? Power absolute after 1434. - Lorenzo the Magnificent: a Medici. - Savonarola's sermons: Nicolo: early twenties; cause of Italy's was not fault of Italian. - Lorenzo dies 1492; five Italian states. - Enter French King Charles VIII and 40,000 soldiers.- The Great Council - est. 22 Dec. 1494 - must be 29 yrs. old; 3,000 members choose Council of Eight - must be 40 yrs. old. - M.'s father's death 10 May 1500; also sister Primavera died while M. was in France at same time. - Who were the Signori? - M. tells cardinal how to take possession of other lands, 4 steps - p. 46. - 1501: returned to Florence from France - married Marietta Corsini; he continued as an infidel; only one letter survives, p. 50. - Cesare Borgia known as Duke Valentino". -- Notes on half title page: "His chief passions: 1) love of women, 2) desire to achieve great things for Florence and Italy. - How much did he want to be elected to Office? - Sodomy, p. 163: passions, desires, pleasures; he was playful in sex and love, strict with public law". -- Notes on back flyleaf and back endpapers: "p. 206: about the papacy: he was merciless, didn't listen to sermons; however, fear of God had beneficial effects. - M. session with an "old bawd", p. 109; Mach. conquered Pisa in 1509; 7 November 1512: M. [was] informed he was no longer Secretary of Second Chancery, he [was]put in prison, tortured (p. 157). - Different forms of behavior may sometimes lead to exactly the same results, p. 93. - He was fascinated by the power of love (p. 175). - Council of Eighty, the Great Council, the Ten of Liberty and Peace. - p. 100: History - Discourses; Rome - political wisdom. - 1517: M. joined frequent gatherings of younger men to talk history, philosophy etc. - The importance of the History of Rome; he was 50. - 1. duty to teach others good. - Rome vs. Venice: what's the difference? - While alive he didn't get credited for Discourses; he cared deeply about being respected. - Sons: Bernardo - 17 in 1520 - and Lodovico, daughter Baccina, son Guido. - May 4, 1519: Lorenzo de Medici died; Cardinal de Medici came up from Rome to take Florence in hand; M. had been waiting for 8 yrs. - 'The Mandrake' - a comedy; nuts about Lucca. - How poor was M.? - What about the Turks? What was the threat? - He was hired to write the History of Florence. - What was the status of Roman Catholic Church? - Italian Pope vs. French. - What did he think of the Church - was he a commoner vs. the aristocrats? - Pope Alexander VI dies 1503; new Pope Julius II owed election to Spanish Cardinals. - What is a 'gonfalonier for life'? - M. wanted an army for Florence (or a militia) - might well change the future of Italy. - Florence had everything to lose from open warfare between King of France and the Pope. - Sack of Prato - marked end of Florentine Republic, Spanish killed, raped etc. - Sack of Rome. - M.: Perception of M. because of 'Prince' was that he was "an evil man", a heretic and an advisor to [?]; p. 258: Preferred to go to Hell to discuss politics than to Heaven with the blessed and saintly. - Books: Discourses, The Art of War, Florentine Histories, The Prince, First Decennial. - Italy, Venice the Pope, the Great Council, Cesare Borgia, King of France, Duke Valentino, Palazzo Vecchio, Francesco Vettori - a friend, Pier Soderini, his old political mentor." -- Annotations by Brian Lamb in the margins and underlining of pertinent phrases throughout the book. Examples: p. 47:"To Cardinal of Rouen: M. - If you want to take foreign nations 1) must weaken powerful men, 2) treat subjects well, 3) preserve friendships, 4) beware of other powers equal to your own. - French King Louis didn't know his business well, failed at taking more of Italy." - p. 246: "...when Fortune wishes to inflict "great ruin" on a people, she places men in charge who will "aid in that ruin," and if there is anyone who might cause her plans to fail, "either she kills him or deprives him of all faculties of being able to work anything well"." - p. 259: "Above all, there was a profound, sincere charity ... that "is not envious, is not perverse, does not show pride, is not ambitious, does not seek her own profit, does not get angry, meditates on the wicked man, does not delight in him, does not take pleasure in vanity, suffers everything, believes everything, hopes everything..." - "words key to understanding beauty of his smile".

Subject

"Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527."

"Statesmen--Italy--Florence--Biography."

"Intellectuals--Italy--Florence--Biography."

"Authors, Italian--16th century--Biography."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

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