Though better known today as a political theorist than as a dramatist, Machiavelli secured his fame as a giant in the history of Italian comedy more than fifty years before Shakespeare's comedies delighted English-speaking audiences. This bilingual edition includes all three examples of Machiavelli's comedic art: sparkling translations of his farcical masterpiece, The Mandrake; of his version of Terence's The Woman From Andros; and of his Plautus-inspired Clizia--works whose genre afforded Machiavelli a unique vehicle not only for entertaining audiences but for examining virtue amid the twists and turns of fortune.

The Italian statesman and political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli wrote not only political tracts but also comedies, poems, fables and letters that are seemingly lighthearted. The contributors to this volume explore the meanings of his works.

A play about marriage, lust, adultery, corruption and deceit - all aided by the Mandrake Infusion. It is Machiavelli's greatest sex farce, and a landmark of the Italian Renaissance. This adaptation opened at the Jack Studio Theatre in London on 28 May 2013. "I'm not sure what liberties were applied in bringing a hit from the 1520s to the 21st century stage, but Mandrake had a timeless yet timely vibe about it - like a smart Shakespearean production. It was fresh and contemporary brimming with universal and relevant themes and a humour that's stood the test of time." Chris Osburn Tikichris.com. "Howard Colyer's latest twist on a classic is a wonderfully watchable romp that packs a political punch to go with its comic cuts." Gary Naylor Broadwayworld.com