The Just Prince: A Manual of Leadership

"The Sulwan al-Muta' is an 800-year-old handbook for statesmen written by a Sicilian Arab who presented this advice to a 'just prince' based on Islamic morality, European realism and a broad-ranging knowledge of different cultures. Warm, wise and witty, the work is explicated using straight philosophical discourse as well as the delirious narrative whirl of fables-within-fables so beloved of ancient and mediaeval Oriental literature." "The translators have preceded their presentation of Ibn Zafar's text with a highly original analysis of the qualities any leader needs in order to attain and retain command. They demonstrate that the wisdom found in the Sulwan is comparable to, but far less cynical than, Machiavelli's The Prince. The authors also show that the notion of a 'just prince' is, even today, easily within reach for those who would lead others." --Book Jacket.