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Early Modern English cover of the Book of the Courtier.

The Book of the Courtier (Italian: Il Cortegiano) was written by Baldassare Castiglione over the course of many years beginning in 1508 and published in 1528 just before he died. Baldassare was inspired to write the Courtier by his experiences as a courtier of the virgin Duchess Elisabetta Gonzaga at the court of Urbino. The Courtier is a dialogue in four books on the subject of what constitutes a perfect courtier, and in book three, a perfect lady.

The Courtier was an immediate success and was one of the best selling books of the sixteenth century. During his visits to Italy, Francois I of France read The Courtier and was so impressed that he had it translated into French. He had several copies made, which he then brought back to France to distribute amongst his courtiers. He felt that the book portrayed the model royal court and he strove to create this type of court for himself.

To this day, the Book of the Courtier remains the definitive account of Renaissance court life. By any measure, it is one of the most important of Renaissance works.^{[citation needed]}

The book is organized as a series of fictional conversations that occur between the courtiers of the Duke of Urbino in the year 1507 (when Baldassare was in fact part of the Duke's Court). It takes place over the course of four evenings, or four books, similar in structure to Boccaccio's frame-tale Decameron (1353).

Beginning with Elisabetta Gonzaga asking for a topic of conversation for the evening, the work is narrated by Ludovico da Canossa, Federigo Fregoso, and Julian de Medici among others. The courtier is described as having a cool mind, a good voice (with beautiful, elegant and brave words), and proper bearing and gestures. At the same time though, the courtier is expected to have a warrior spirit, to be athletic and to have good knowledge of the humanities, classics, and how to draw and paint. However, with all these skills he does everything with certain nonchalance or "sprezzatura".

• The Book of the Courtier (1959), translated by Charles S. Singleton, generally considered the best translation. Available in a number of editions including: Doubleday ISBN 0385094213 (1959) and Norton Critical Edition ISBN 0393976068 (2002)
• The Book of the Courtier (1903), English translation by Leonard Eckstein Opdycke. C. Scribner's Sons. From Google Books.
• The Book of the Courtier (1561), English translation by Thomas Hoby as edited by Walter Raleigh for David Nutt, Publisher, London, 1900. From the University of Oregon.
• The Book of the Courtier (1561), English translation by Thomas Hoby as edited by Walter Raleigh for David Nutt, Publisher, London, 1900. From Google Books.