Galateo

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“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.” Thus begins a treatise on polite behavior penned by Giovanni Della Casa for his nephew, a young Florentine poised for greatness. In the voice of a cranky yet genial uncle, Della Casa distills a lifetime of insights from his experiences as a diplomat and papal nuncio. Addressing topics such as dress codes, conversation, eating habits, and literary language, this work remains as relevant today as it was in Renaissance Italy. It circulated widely, akin to Machiavelli’s and Castiglione’s works, portraying the refined man navigating a world rife with embarrassment and vulgarity. Rather than merely promoting courtly values, it reflects on conformity, perfection, and the often theatrical ways people embarrass themselves socially. With a renewed interest in etiquette, this definitive edition serves as both an entertaining guide for modern society and a subtle nudge for those in need of a refresher on proper behavior.