Set mainly in Imola, Italy, but also in other Italian cities, including Machiavelli's hometown Florence during the Renaissance, the story focuses on three months in the life of Niccolò Machiavelli, the Florentine politician, diplomat, philosopher and writer in the early years of the 16th century.

Against that background, a love farce unfolds, in which Machiavelli tries to seduce the young wife of his host at Imola.

The unsuccessful affair gave Machiavelli the idea of writing his first comedy, The Mandrake.

Thus, Then and Now appears to combine the two best-known works of Machiavelli – The Prince and The Mandrake.

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