The Courtier: In Four Books (1724)

By Balthasar Castiglione

Book Overview

The Courtier: In Four Books is a book written by Italian author Balthasar Castiglione in 1528 and published in 1724. It is a guidebook for the ideal courtier, or gentleman, in the 16th century Italian court. The book is divided into four books, each discussing a different aspect of the courtier's life. The first book discusses the qualities that a courtier should possess, including physical and mental abilities, education, and manners. The second book focuses on the art of conversation, including how to engage in witty and intelligent discourse. The third book discusses the courtier's physical abilities, including horsemanship, athleticism, and dancing. The fourth and final book discusses the courtier's moral and spiritual qualities, including humility, piety, and devotion to God. Throughout the book, Castiglione emphasizes the importance of balance and moderation in all things. He also stresses the importance of adapting to one's surroundings and being able to navigate the complexities of court life. The Courtier was widely read and influential in its time and is still considered a classic of Renaissance literature.Contains Of The Form And Manner Of A Court Life; Of The Qualifications Of A Courtier; Of The Accomplishments Of A Court Lady; And, Of The Duty Of A Prince. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1104486849
• ISBN13: 9781104486846
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 460 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"