The title and Dedicatory Letter to Machiavelli’s brief work seem entirely straightforward: the title is The Prince, or Il Principe in Italian, and the work is dedicated to “the Magnificent Lorenzo de’ Medici the Younger.” As with many aspects of The Prince, however, things turn out to be more complicated upon further examination. A consideration of the title and Dedicatory Letter will enable us to better understand the form and style of The Prince, thereby introducing the reader to some of the stylistic features of Machiavelli’s writing in order to reveal, so to speak, his “tricks of his trade” as an author. This analysis will also lead us to entertain the question of Machiavelli’s intended audience or audiences.