The Book of Peace by Christine de Pizan

Penn State Romance Studies

by Karen Green (Translator/Editor), Janice Pinder (Translator/Editor), Constant J. Mews (Translator/Editor)

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 text's intended recipient was the dauphin, Louis of Guyenne; Christine felt that Louis 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 Livre de paix was revolutionary in its timing, viewpoint, and content.

This volume, edited by Karen Green, Constant J. Mews, and Janice Pinder, boasts the first full English translation of Pizan's work along with the original French text. The editors also place the Livre de paix in historical context, provide a brief biography of Pizan, and offer insight into the translation process.

360 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Christine de Pizan has quite a few good insights. Is there any topic this woman didn't write about? This is one of three political treatises she wrote for the Dauphin Louis of France in the 1400's. Also, I loved the introduction and context sections. It was refreshing to read scholarship on Christine de Pizan that treated her Christian faith with respect and not trying to turn her into s proto-feminist. This book is still relevant and needed today, even though she is talking about monarchy. Some of her sections on peasants may rankle modern readers, especially Americans. I recommend remembering the era she wrote in, and also asking ourselves why it rankles us. Is it because we still hear such rhetoric today? Well, there is nothing new under the sun. We are just as human and messed up now as they were back then. We just have better technology and more advanced ways of doing all the horrible things she wants to stop via virtuous living. In 100 or a thousand years from now what views in our modern books will have readers upset with us? Leave the chronological snobbery at the door. Bring a Bible and a concordance. You need both to read any work of hers.

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman ahead of her time.