Written by the renowned historian and polymath Lisa Jardine, this compelling work examines the 1584 murder of William I, Prince of Orange, identifying it as the first assassination of a head of state by a handgun. Jardine expertly weaves together political intrigue, the rise of firearms, and the religious tensions of the Dutch Revolt to show how this single event reshaped European history. This Harper Perennial paperback edition is in very good condition, featuring a striking illustrated cover with minimal edge wear; the internal pages are clean, bright, and securely bound, showing no significant marks or creases beyond very light natural toning to the page edges.