The Book of the Duke of True Lovers

This translation brings to life a rare fifteenth‑century French love story preserved in only two manuscripts. One was part of the dazzling library of Jean, Duc de Berry, later seized by French kings and now housed in Bibliothèque Nationale; the other travelled from the court of Charles VI to the Harleian collection in England. The tale was composed by Christine de Pisan, a pioneering medieval writer whose own life spanned Venice, Paris, and the courts of Charles V. Her prolific output ranged from lyrical poetry to moral prose, and this romance stands out as a personal, family‑secret narrative.

Framed as a confession from an unnamed prince who calls himself the Duke of True Lovers, the tale weaves the passions and intrigues of high‑born lovers in the turbulent world of 14th‑ and 15th‑century France. Though the characters echo real figures like Jean, Duc de Bourbon, and Marie, Duchesse de Berry, the narrative centers on the tender, precarious dance of devotion, duty and desire. Listeners are drawn into elegant language and vivid courtly atmosphere, experiencing a love story that feels historic and timeless.