Book of Good Love

Book of Good Love – Edilan – ms. 2663 – Universidad de Salamanca (Salamanca, Spain)

Spain — Between the late 14th century and the early 15th century

Amorous adventures, enlightening fables and lyrical poems: the unusual work of the mysterious author Juan Ruiz de Cisneros on both the profane and spiritual love of God

  1. This unusual 14th century book deals with both profane love and the spiritual love of God

  2. The only known work by the mysterious author Juan Ruiz de Cisneros, Archpriest of Hita

  3. The tales from his amorous adventures were spiced up with allegories, fables, and lyrical tales

Book of Good Love

  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Book of Good Love

A mysterious author with the name Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita, composed this gem of Spanish literature during the first half of the 14th century: the so-called Libro de buen amor, the Book of Good Love. In contrast to what was typical for the time, this book not only deals with the spiritual love of God, but also with profane love. The author presents stories of his amorous adventures, but also allegories and lyric tales. With the compendium at hand from Salamanca, Alfonso de Paradinas finally produced the best copy of the Libro de buen amor.

Book of Good Love

The Book of Good Love, also known as Libro de los cantares, is the only known work by the mysterious author named Juan Ruiz de Cisneros, Archpriest of Hita (ca. 1283–1350). Juan Ruiz de Cisneros was a Spanish poet, who was particularly able to provoke spirituality with his Libro de buen amor. This was also probably the reason for his arrest and imprisonment by the Archbishop Gil Albornoz of Toledo.

A Potpourri of Profane Love

The Libro de buen amor appears in two editions from the years 1330 and 1343 – in an improved and revised form. In the field of research, this work by Juan Ruiz is considered to be a highpoint of Spanish literature and as one of the most entertaining books of the entire Middle Ages. Here, the author assembled wonderful testimonials to his narrative ability and satirical humor. There is a prayer at the beginning of the book, but what follows thereafter are not spiritual but rather profane themes. The entertaining tales from his amorous adventures were spiced up by the author with interspersed allegories, fables, and lyrical tales.

Entertainment with a Biting Deeper Meaning

This work did not merely pursue the aim of providing light entertainment for the reader, but simultaneously offered the author the opportunity for subtle criticism. In the so-called Ensiemplos (funny comments), Juan Ruiz chalked up the moral customs of his time and makes fun of the prevailing rules such as the ban on contact between clerics and women.

The Best Edition

This literary work was certainly highly revered by readers. Today it survives in three medieval specimens. The most comprehensive thereof was made for the library of the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé in Salamanca at the end of 14th or beginning of the 15th century, where it is still stored today. The scribe was probably Alfonso de Paradinas (1395–1485), a Spanish cleric, bishop, and follower of the fresh thinking of the Renaissance. Paradinas had the Iglesia de Santiago de los Españoles erected as Spain’s national cathedral in Rome, the modern-day Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore, inter alia.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Libro de Buen Amor
Buch der guten Liebe
Livre de Bon Amour
Size / Format
105 pages / 28.0 × 21.0 cm
Origin
Spain
Date
Between the late 14th century and the early 15th century
Style
Language
Patron
Alfonso de Paradinas
Artist / School

Available facsimile editions:
Book of Good Love – Edilan – ms. 2663 – Universidad de Salamanca (Salamanca, Spain)
Edilan – Madrid, 1975
Limited Edition: 5000 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Libro de Buen Amor

Edilan – Madrid, 1975

Publisher: Edilan – Madrid, 1975
Limited Edition: 5000 copies
Binding: Leather
Commentary: 1 volume by César Real de la Riva
Language: Spanish
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
You might also be interested in:
Book of Lovers – Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte – Ms. 388 – Musée Condé (Chantilly, France)
Book of Lovers
France – Beginning of the 16th century

Romantic walks, intimate embraces, and lively dance scenes: courtly love in the 16th century, grandly depicted in full-page miniatures and carefully selected colors

Experience More
Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu – Vicent Garcia Editores – Ms. Rothschild 2973 – Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris, France)
Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu
Savoy (France) – Ca. 1460

Once owned by the Rothschild family and unique in its form: a heart-shaped hymnal with 44 songs for Bishop Montchenu, a romantic at the French royal court

Experience More
Erotic Papyrus – BiblioGemma – N. Inv. C. 2031 (CGT 55001) – Museo Egizio di Torino (Turin, Italy)
Erotic Papyrus
Deir el-Medina (Egypt) – 1186–1070 b. C.

A shock for its European discoverers and a unique testimony to antique Egyptian culture: erotic depictions and satirical animal drawings in an ancient, fascinating papyrus

Experience More
Ramon Llull's Tree of the Philosophy of Love – Millennium Liber – F-129 – Biblioteca Diocesana de Mallorca (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
Ramon Llull's Tree of the Philosophy of Love
Colegio de la Sapiencia, Majorca (Spain) – Fist quarter of the 14th century

Insights into the mental world of a much-traveled, Christian scholar of the 13th century: Ramon Llull's fundamental work on the love between God and the faithful in Catalan

Experience More
King René's Book of Love – Editiones Reales Sitios S. L. – Cod. Vind. 2597 – Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Vienna, Austria)
King René's Book of Love
France – 1460–1467

Inspired by a tragic loss, illustrated with the most beautiful twilight scenes of illumination: an allegorical chivalric romance written by Duke René d´Anjou and illustrated by Barthélemy d'Eyck

Experience More
The Great Book of Love – AyN Ediciones – Ms. Prov. F. V. XIV.1 – National Library of Russia (St. Petersburg, Russia)
The Great Book of Love
Lleida (Spain) or France – Ca. 1320

Poetry about the love of God, the love between man and woman, and neighborly love: troubadour poetry in golden 14th century miniatures

Experience More
Blog articles worth reading
Filter selection
Publisher