It is worth pronouncing the name Niccol Machiavelli (1469-1527), and immediately recalling his main work, "The Sovereign", - a guide, permeated with cynicism and cold calculation, how to manage the subjects. If we judge the author from this book, we are presented with a cruel, completely devoid of compassion. Paul Stretern expands the scope of this presentation. It tells the story of a beautiful and bloody Renaissance, where conspiracies and uprisings along with lush festivities were commonplace, and the ruler should beware not only of his own people, but also of his closest entourage. And let many centuries have passed, Machiavelli’s book has not lost its relevance...