The Book of Peace (Penn State Romance Studies)

Description

“An impressive work of erudition and collaborative scholarship. There is much to admire here.”—Roberta Kreuger, Hamilton College Christine de Pizan, one of the earliest known women authors, wrote the Livre de Paix (Book of Peace) between 1412 and 1414, a period of severe corruption and civil unrest in her native France. The book offered Pizan a platform from which to expound her views on contemporary politics and to put forth a strict moral code to which she believed all governments should aspire. The third of three books, the text’s intended recipient was the dauphin, Louis of Guyenne, who she felt had the political and social influence to fill a void left by years of incompetent leadership. Drawing in equal parts from the Bible and from classical ethical theory, the book was revolutionary in its timing, viewpoint, and content. Edited by Karen Green, Constant Mews, and Janice Pinder, this book boasts the first full English translation of Pizan’s work, side by side with the original French text. An extensive series of introductions places the Livre de Paix in historical context, provides a brief biography of Pizan, and offers insight into the translation process.