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The Book of Peace
By Christine de Pizan
360 pages | 6 x 9 | 2008
ISBN 978-0-271-03396-9 | cloth: $75.00 sh
ISBN 978-0-271-03397-6 | paper: $25.00 sh
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.
This book is a publication of the Office of Digital Scholarly Publishing, a collaboration of the Penn State Press and the Penn State Libraries.
This book can be read online at the Penn State University Library site by clicking here.
Karen Green is Associate Professor in Philosophy at Monash University. Constant J. Mews is Professor of History at the School of Historical Studies at Monash University. Janice Pinder is Research Associate at the School of Historical Studies at Monash University.
Contents
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Karen Green
Sources of Le Livre de paix
Constant J. Mews
Description of the Manuscripts
Tania van Hemelryck
Note on the Text
Janice Pinder
The Book of Peace
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Le Livre de paix
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Appendix: Table of Sources
Bibliography
Index