Galateo: Or, The Rules of Polite Behavior

“Since it is the case that you are now just beginning that journey that I have for the most part as you see completed, that is, the one through mortal life, and loving you so very much as I do, I have proposed to myself—as one who has been many places—to show you those places in life where, walking through them, I fear you could easily either fall or take the wrong direction.” So begins Galateo, a treatise on polite behavior written by Giovanni Della Casa (1503–56) for the benefit of his nephew, a young Florentine destined for greatness. In the voice of a cranky yet genial old uncle, Della Casa offers the distillation of what he has learned over a lifetime of public service as diplomat and papal nuncio. As relevant today as it was in Renaissance Italy, Galateo deals with subjects as varied as dress codes, charming conversation and off-color jokes, eating habits and hairstyles, and literary language. In its time, Galateo circulated as widely as Machiavelli’s Prince and Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier. Mirroring what Machiavelli did for promoting political behavior, and what Castiglione did for behavior at court, Della Casa here creates a picture of the refined man caught in a world in which embarrassment and vulgarity prevail. Less a treatise promoting courtly values or a manual of savoir faire, it is rather a meditation on conformity and the law, on perfection and rules, but also an exasperated—often theatrical—reaction to the diverse ways in which people make fools of themselves in everyday social situations. With renewed interest in etiquette and polite behavior growing both inside and outside the academy, the time is right for a new, definitive edition of this book. More than a mere etiquette book, this restored edition will be entertaining (and even useful) for anyone making their way in modern civilized and polite society, and a subtle gift for the rude neighbor, the thoughtless dinner guest, or the friend or relative in need of a refresher on proper behavior.

Literature & Fiction

Della Casa, Giovanni

World Literature

University of Chicago Press

“Since it is the case that you are now just beginning that journey that I have for the most part as you see completed, that is, the one through mortal life, and loving you so very much as I do, I have proposed to myself—as one who has been many places—to show you those places in life where, walking through them, I fear you could easily either fall or take the wrong direction.” So begins Galateo, a treatise on polite behavior written by Giovanni Della Casa (1503–56) for the benefit of his nephew, a young Florentine destined for greatness. In the voice of a cranky yet genial old uncle, Della Casa offers the distillation of what he has learned over a lifetime of public service as diplomat and papal nuncio. As relevant today as it was in Renaissance Italy, Galateo deals with subjects as varied as dress codes, charming conversation and off-color jokes, eating habits and hairstyles, and literary language. In its time, Galateo circulated as widely as Machiavelli’s Prince and Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier. Mirroring what Machiavelli did for promoting political behavior, and what Castiglione did for behavior at court, Della Casa here creates a picture of the refined man caught in a world in which embarrassment and vulgarity prevail. Less a treatise promoting courtly values or a manual of savoir faire, it is rather a meditation on conformity and the law, on perfection and rules, but also an exasperated—often theatrical—reaction to the diverse ways in which people make fools of themselves in everyday social situations. With renewed interest in etiquette and polite behavior growing both inside and outside the academy, the time is right for a new, definitive edition of this book. More than a mere etiquette book, this restored edition will be entertaining (and even useful) for anyone making their way in modern civilized and polite society, and a subtle gift for the rude neighbor, the thoughtless dinner guest, or the friend or relative in need of a refresher on proper behavior.

Reference

Galateo (Renaissance and Reformation Texts in Translation, 2) (English and Italian Edition)

History

Centre for Reformation &

Giovanni della Casa's Poem Book: Ioannis Casae Carminum Liber, Florence 1564 (Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies, vol. 194)

Poetry

Mrts

The refin'd courtier, or, A correction of several indecencies crept into civil conversation written originally in Italian by John Casa; from thence ... of paraphrase, made English, by N.W. (1686)

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

EEBO Editions, ProQuest

J. Casa his Galateus, or a treatise of manners. Wherein a father instructs his son ... Writ originally in Italian, ... Done into English from an elegant L[atin] version of N. Chytræus. ...

World

Gale ECCO, Print Editions

Galateo (Einaudi tascabili)

Einaudi

Galateo

BUR Biblioteca Univ. Rizzoli

The volume is the facsimile reprint of a famous book about conduct written in the 16 th century by the Italian archbishop and scholar Giovanni Della Casa. Published for the first time in 1558, Galateo promotes civilized manners and warns against many bad attitudes. 1st edition: November 2013 1st reprint: October 2017

Il Galateo di Messer Giovanni della Casa: Trattato di Meser Giovanni della Casa, nel quale sotto la persona d’un vecchio idiota ammaestrante un suo ... comune conversatione, cognominato Galatheo

Arts & Photography

Edizioni Polistampa

Il "Galateo" di Giovanni Della Casa è il testo più importante e conosciuto nell'ambito dei trattati sull'educazione e sulle buone maniere. Pubblicato postumo nel 1558, rappresenta un manuale d'uso comune ideato per fornire quegli insegnamenti basilari sul comportamento corretto da tenere in società nelle diverse occasioni, dalla conversazione alla tavola, dai convenevoli alla bellezza femminile. Proprio questa caratteristica gli ha consentito di raggiungere moltissimi lettori sin dalla prima edizione e di non essere dimenticato nel corso dei secoli a venire.

Galateo (Italian Edition)

flower-ed

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