Le Livre Des Etats de Don Juan Manuel de Castile

Around 1330, Don Juan Manuel de Castile, son of King Ferdinand III of Castille, presented Livre des Etats to a group of ecclesiastics. It was a long dialogue in the form of questions and responses reflecting on aspects of sovereignty, royal office, duties and subjects. The work is divided into two books, the first focusing on matters of state, the second on clerical matters, allthough the work as a whole is most revealing about aspects of cultural and religious life and the political ambition of the author. This French translation of Livre des Etats is based on a 1981 Spanish translation. It includes a short introduction to Don Juan, his background and life, his writings and introduces the style and content of Livre des Etats . French text.