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Discover the different practices and forms of Machiavellian otium across a selection of letters taken from Niccolò Machiavelli’s correspondence between 1512 and 1527.

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03-01-1526

M. replies to Guicciardini’s doubts concerning the performance of the Mandragola in Faenza and comments on the political situation and the eventuality of war.

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26-12-1525

Guicciardini gives instructions to M. concerning the performance of Mandragola in Faenza and emphasizes the importance of comedy during times of hardship.

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16/20-10-1525

M. explains idiomatic and proverbial expressions from his Mandragola, which were unclear to Guicciardini. He provides a report on the state of the preparations in Florence as to the performance of this comedy in Faenza.

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17-08-1525

M. starts to exchange ideas with F. Guicciardini about the plan to stage La Mandragola in the Romagna.

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22-02-1525

Nerli congratulates M. on the tremendous success of his Clizia staged on the Florentine countryside in the gardens of “Il Fornaciaio” (Jacopo di Filippo Falconetti).

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17-05-1521

M. writes in a playful and jocular manner in relation to his rather ‘otiose’ mission to the Minorite Friars at Carpi, where he had been sent by the Otto di Pratica of Florence in order to negotiate for installation of a new governor and administrative reforms for the Order. In this letter to Francesco Guicciardini he reflects on religion, writing, and his own role as a citizen and diplomat of Florence and as a writer.

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26-04-1520

Della Palla relays the good news to M. that he will receive an official commission by the Medici for writing the History of Florence.

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10-12-1513

Description of a day in M.’s life in his villa in Sant’Andrea in Percussina (San Casciano). This letter is M.’s most famous letter because in it he informs Francesco Vettori that he is writing “un opuscolo de principatibus” later identified as The Prince. He asks Vettori to convey his “opuscule” to the Medici.

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08-12-1509

Leisure in free time: M.’s enigmatic description of an erotic adventure

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29-11-1509

The letter indulges in the description of leisure in moments of unoccupied time when M. distracts himself by writing letters or poems.

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