This is a work based on the novella of the Archdevil Belfagor by Niccolò Machiavelli and influenced by The Prince. The novella of the Archdevil Belfagor is Machiavelli's only narrative work. Scholars date it to the period 1515-1520. It was found printed in Florence in 1549.
It is a biting satire of superstitions, religious fanaticism, social conditions, and institutions in Florence of its time, where vanity, consumerism, the shadow economy, and political and economic instability and uncertainty flourish, making it timelessly relevant by drawing parallels to the present day. The ironic view of the institution of marriage forms the canvas on which Machiavelli cleverly weaves the plot of his story.
The Enamored Archdevil is a verse adaptation, predominantly using the fifteen-syllable meter, of the novella of the Archdevil Belfagor into theatrical form.
In the postscript of the edition, Thodoris Oikonomidis writes: "Today’s audience needs to find solutions, to disentangle and free themselves from the woes that have plagued them for centuries, and Hadjiemmanuil, collaborating with Machiavelli, offers this opportunity. He turns Machiavellian discourse into theatre and offers the audience a chance to identify with the suffering heroes and discover solutions and paths to salvation. […] The Enamored Archdevil is, therefore, a genuine theatrical text, written in impeccable meter and vibrant rhythm. A work whose most suitable form for stage production is the Commedia Erudita, that is, the court comedy of Machiavelli’s era."
