'Benigna Machiavelli' Summary

As a child, Benigna Machiavelli decides to emulate her ancestor Niccolò Machiavelli, but with a twist: she will use her cunning and machinations for good rather than evil. Throughout the novel, Benigna concocts elaborate plans to help those around her, from raising money for an impoverished teacher to liberating her mother from her domineering father. One of Benigna's most significant challenges is her domineering father. Determined to liberate her downtrodden mother from his verbal abuse, Benigna concocts an elaborate plan to deal with him and restore her mother's self-confidence. Benigna Machiavelli is a delightful and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of feminism, social justice, and the power of female ingenuity.