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Book of the Week

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Serialised book readings, featuring works from various genres

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

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Book of the Week: Be Like the Fox

Toby Jones

Erica Benner

Polly Coles

Clive Brill

Book of the Week: Be Like the Fox: Episode 5

Be Like the Fox

Episode 5

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Be Like the Fox, Episode 5

Machiavelli can no longer outwit his enemies in Florence's government.

After a lifetime in politics, Machiavelli can no longer outwit his enemies in Florence's government. Tortured in Florence's notorious Stinche prison, his life changes forever.

A new interpretation on the importance of The Prince in Machiavelli's life and subsequent reputation.

His name has of course become a by-word for political machination, but this new biography by Erica Benner challenges the notions that Machiavelli was simply a satanic cynic. 

She suggests that, in context, he emerges as his era's staunchest champion of liberty who refused to compromise his ideals to fit the corrupt times in which he lived. As often as he advocates extreme measures for dealing with the enemy, he actually balances this with respect for the law in sentences such as "victories are never secure without some respect, especially for justice" and "cities have never expanded either in dominion or in riches if they have not been in freedom."

So this book is an attempt to redress the balance. 


Read by Toby Jones
Written by Erica Benner
Abridged by Polly Coles

Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Erica Benner's myth-busting biography of Niccolo Machiavelli.

Erica Benner's biography of Niccolo Machiavelli challenges the notion that he was simply a satanic cynic. Read by Toby Jones. Abridged by Polly Coles.

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