The Book of the Body Politic

Medieval social/political theory from Christine de Pizan, France's first female professional writer.

Christine de Pizan (Author), Kate Langdon Forhan (Edited by)

9780521422598, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 15 September 1994

162 pages
21.3 x 13.7 x 1.5 cm, 0.23 kg

Christine de Pizan was born in Venice and raised in Paris at the court of Charles V of France. Widowed at the age of twenty-five, she turned to writing as a source of comfort and income, and went on to produce a remarkable series of books, including poetry, politics, chivalry, warfare, religion and philosophy. She is considered to be France's first female professional writer. This was the first translation into modern English of Christine de Pizan's major political work, The Book of the Body Politic. Written during the Hundred Years' War, it discusses the education and behaviour appropriate for princes, nobility and common people, so that all classes can understand their responsibilities towards society as a whole. A product of a time of civil unrest, The Book of the Body Politic offers a medieval political theory of interdependence and social responsibility from the perspective of an educated woman.

Introduction
Note on the text
Principal events in Christine de Pizan's life
Bibliography
The Book of the Body Politic
Part 1. On Princes: Part 2. On Nobles and Knights: Part 3. On the Common People: Glossary.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]