The Absence of Grace: Sprezzatura and Suspicion in Two Renaissance Courtesy Books

Abstract

Preface Introduction Part I. Falling from Grace: Sprezzatura, Suspicion and the Perils of Mastication: 1. Sprezzatura and the absence of grace 2. Count Ricciardo's tiny defect 3. Galateo and the civilizing process: a short history of table manners Part II. Losing Control: The Woman Question in The Book of the Courtier: 4. A perfect gentleman: performing gynephobia in Urbino 5. A perfect lady: Pygmalion and his 'creatura' Part III. Missing Hercules: Unreliable Narrators in The Book of the Courtier and Galateo: 6. Internal distance: at home and abroad with Castiglione's author 7. Narratorial sour grapes: reading Galateo Notes Bibliography Index.