The book is organized as a series of fictional conversations that occur between the courtiers of the Duke of Urbino in 1507 (when Baldassare was in fact part of the Duke's Court).

In the book, the courtier is described as having a cool mind, a good voice (with beautiful, elegant and brave words) along with proper bearing and gestures. At the same time though, the courtier is expected to have a warrior spirit, to be athletic, and have good knowledge of the humanities, Classics and fine arts.

Length: 524 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product details

File Size: 1698 KB
Print Length: 524 pages
Publication Date: April 21, 2013
Language: English
ASIN: B00CGTMREK
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Not Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

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David

Genteel Manners and Military Virtue

December 17, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

"The Book of the Courtier" is engaging, witty, light on its feet, yet deep. Singleton's translation is very faithful and readable, and exudes the spirit of the original.

The book takes the form of a dialogue set at the court of Urbino in 1506 (or 1507) and carried out over the course of four consecutive evenings; thus it consists of four books, each with its own focus and principal speakers. The first book is definitely worth reading for anyone interested in the times, as it discusses such topics as the nature of nobility, sprezzatura (nonchalance), imitation in the arts, and the relation between letters and arms. The second book seems less essential--at least in our age--as its main topic is the art of courtly discussion, including a long section on witticisms. The third book is about the ideal lady, though most of it is taken up with a debate about whether women are less perfect than men or their equals, and then there is a long section on courtly love. This chapter offers a window into the range of views about women at that time and also into the relations between aristocratic men and women. The chapter is heavily coloured by the values of chivalry and is perhaps the one which most reveals the gulf in values between Renaissance culture and our own. These courtiers are ill from love and often near the point of death for all their pining. Especially in the third book they seem so dainty and polite it is hard to picture them even yielding a sword. Their ideal courtier and lady are so refined their every breath seems mannered and measured. While reading the book I kept wishing to see the portrayal of such fine manners and subtle glances on the screen (since where else could one see them today?), but, at the same time, it seems that such airy people could at any moment just pop out of existence. Fortunately the fourth book corrects all that by arguing that all of the previously mentioned qualities of a courtier are justified by only one end: the courtier's role in enhancing his prince's virtue. In order to show how that may be done the first part of book 4 draws heavily on Aristotle's "Ethics" and "Politics." Then the climax of the book points to the contemplative life, drawing heavily on the idea of the ladder of love in Plato's "Symposium."

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mark baldwin

Wonderful! The original Handbook for Gentlemen-Book forever motivates Development of Diverse Well-Rounded Excellences.

January 28, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Wonderful! The original Handbook for Gentlemen. While, you are unlikely to ever approach the diversity of excellencies described herein, this text motivates and inspires the average to good, the good to better, and the better to best. Discovery the "Order of the Garter" membership qualifications, extraordinary respect, acceptance, and glorification of intelligent and powerful women, the emergence of Elizabeth I, Shakespeare's patron, founder of the British Empire, and bridge to the Protestant Reformation and Enlightenment Science ,

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A contemporary guide to behavior in the halls of power

December 16, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Well, contemporary for Niccolo Machiavelli. But this book has enduring relevance for anyone who has to spend time among those courting the politically powerful. It would be easy to dismiss this as without current relevance, but that would be a clear indication of either naiveté about political life or intellectual laziness (or both). The book is formatted as a series of fictional or fictionalized discussions among the influential. This was a common style for non-fiction, from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century, but does feel a little odd to many modern readers.

Over the course of several evenings, the topic is "What makes the perfect courtier?" That is to say, the perfect flunky in the company of the politically powerful. Many attributes an behaviors are discussed as appropriate for a courtier, and two things jumped out at me. First, that this could be a textbook for a political intern or a climber in the business world. Second, how shallow the desired traits were. Social graces, from a good family, a good dancer, a good athlete, but never a skilled planner, a thoughtful or reflective nature, and definitely not someone who will tell the boss the ugly news. There is also great deal of discussion of how to backstab with grace and style.

Reading this was something of a secret and dirty pleasure; the conformation that so little in human behavior has changed in five centuries, the underhanded social techniques, the unbridled ambition of the players.

If you are headed for an entry level position in the political arena, read this, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.

E. M. Van Court

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Doug

Great Book!

May 20, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I enjoy reading history, and this book gives a different and very interesting insight into the norms and practices of 600 years ago (at least of the "nobler" class). What I appreciated the most was relating "yesterday's" social and societal practices to today's. In so many ways, we can see ourselves in these would-be practitioners of the "code". And in many ways, we feel the loss of a certain gentility that was expressed in this book. Great read. Another excellent book that gets into the mind of late medieval thinkers is "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" by Baltasar Gracian.

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Amazon Customer

Eh, worth it

December 17, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A great book to learn some life lessons. I found some parts to be sorta progressive in theory, but others definitely not so much. I'm glad I read this and I recommend to any young adult on their way up.

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Ariosto9

It is a kind of Anne Landers for guys like Bill Shakespeare

May 28, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book won't read on my Kindle very well. It has lots of typos and some kind of coding problem. I'd suggest getting the penguin edition instead, if you are interested in Castiglione. It isn't general history. One requires some background in Renaissance social history to place it in context. It is a kind of Anne Landers for guys like Bill Shakespeare.

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