Book of Deeds - Ppr. [Paperback]

Christine De Pizan (Author, Editor), Sumner Willard (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 027101881X | ISBN-13: 978-0271018812 | Publication Date: April 1999

It is unexpected in any era to find a woman writing a book on the art of warfare, but in the fifteenth century it was unbelievable. Not surprisingly, therefore, Christine de Pizan's The Book of Deeds of Arms and of Chivalry, written around 1410, has often been regarded with disdain. Many have assumed that Christine was simply copying or pilfering earlier military manuals. But, as Sumner Willard and Charity Cannon Willard show in this faithful English translation, The Book of Deeds of Arms and of Chivalry contains much that is original to Christine. As a military manual it tells us a great deal about the strategy, tactics, and technology of medieval warfare and is one of our most important sources for early gunpowder weapon technology. It also includes a fascinating discussion of Just War.Since the end of the fifteenth century, The Book of Deeds of Arms and of Chivalry has been available primarily through Antoine Vérard's imprint of 1488 or William Caxton's 1489 translation, The Book of the Order of Chivalry. Vérard even suggested that the work was his own translation of the Roman writer Vegetius, making no mention of Christine's name. Caxton attributed the work to Christine, but it is impossible to identify the manuscript he used for his translation. Moreoever, both translations are inaccurate. The Willards correct these inaccuracies in a clear and easy-to-read translation, which they supplement with notes and an introduction that will greatly benefit students, scholars, and enthusiasts alike. Publication of this work should change our perception both of medieval warfare and of Christine de Pizan.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Sumner Willard, former professor at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, was best known for his translation of J. F. Verbruggen's The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages (Elsevier, 1977; revised edition, Boydell, 1997). Charity Cannon Willard is the preeminent Christine de Pizan scholar in the United States. She has translated Christine's A Medieval Woman's Mirror of Honor: The Treasure of the City of Ladis (Persea, 1989) and written a biography, Christine de Pizan: Her Life and Works (Persea, 1984). --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Penn State University Press (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 027101881X
• ISBN-13: 978-0271018812
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Military strategy according to a 15th century female author, January 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Book of Deeds - Ppr. (Paperback)

This book from 1410 consists of two main parts. The first part deals with military strategy (mostly based on Vegetius), and the second (mostly based on Bonnet's tree of battles) with laws of war, and the concept of just war. I found this work much more enjoyable than Macchiavelli's Art of War, for one thing Christine doesn't dwell so much on the supposed superiority of the Romans in all things, and she adds some interesting original material, such as detailed lists of fortification and siege equipment (up to sizes and amounts of timber, nails, etc.). This book is unique, being the only military classic written by a female author. The translation to english is very readable.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of intrest to armchair or minimumal historians too, August 18, 2002

By 

Colonel Jenna (Overland Park, Kansas USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book of Deeds of Arms and of Chivalry (Hardcover)

I first read about this book in the forward to another book by Christine De Pisan (Treasure of the City of Ladies.) I became wild to own several of her writings, and am glad to own this one. I find it interesting reading even though I am not really a scholar of military history, at least not in the usual sense.

As a member of an historical re-creation society I take particular enjoyment in this book, as I have stood on the sidelines of our "battles" and know a very little about field tactics from watching. As the organizer of our medieval version of the USO Canteen, I really, REALLY liked the parts about how to feed an army before battle!