The Book of the Courtier
| Language | en |
|---|---|
| First published | 2022-04-08 |
| Rights | Public domain in the USA. |
| Gutenberg ID | #67799 |
Description
"The Book of the Courtier" by conte Baldassarre Castiglione is a philosophical dialogue composed between 1508 and 1528. Set over four evenings at the Renaissance court of Urbino, the work presents courtiers debating what makes an ideal gentleman worthy of serving a prince. They discuss noble rank, physical prowess, artistic knowledge, proper speech, and the mysterious quality of *sprezzatura*—a studied nonchalance that conceals effort. The book also explores humor, love, and the nature of the perfect court lady, creating a portrait of a vanishing world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)