1594 Sinner\'s Guide by Louis of Granada, Latin translation.Closure clasp intact.
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1594 Sinner\'s Guide by Louis of Granada, Latin translation.Closure clasp intact.:
$739.99
The Work
A very original 1594 Latin edition of Louis of Granada’s classicwork The Sinner’s Guide, which St. Teresa of Avila considered responsible forthe conversion of at least one million souls in the 16th century. With true wooden boards, and one clasp stillintact and functional, this is one of the most interesting 16thcentury bindings I’ve had the pleasure of owning. . “The work is marked by asmooth, harmonious style of purest Spanish idiom which has merited for it thereputation of a classic, and by an unctuous eloquence that has made it aperennial source of religious inspiration. It has been most favorably comparedwith Thomas à Kempis\' Imitation of Christ.”(Wikipedia)
From the book review site Goodreads.com – “The author wasthe favorite writer of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, & St.Vincent de Paul. St. Teresa of Avila credited this book with having convertedover a million people in her time. This is the most persuasive book we know toencourage people to abandon sin and embrace repentance and virtue. The logic isrelentless and effective. For mastery of subject, command of Scripture andtotal impact on the reader, no book surpasses The Sinner\'s Guide!”
“The first part consists of 12 reasons to practice virtue e.g.God\'s majesty, his creation and preservation of the world, his works ofsalvation, etc. Then, he dispels with some common excuses for not practicingvirtue: \"I\'ll wait until I\'m on my death-bed,\" \"I\'ll start someother time,\" \"It\'ll be too hard,\" and the like. He then givesthe reader remedies to overcome all 7 of the deadly sins, as well as somelesser, but no less noxious, vices (e.g. detraction, rash judgment). Lastly, heteaches about the virtues with regard to God, Man, and Oneself, with one finalexhortation to practice diligence and courage in the life of virtue.”
The book also includes a forward by the translator, and anapproving foreword of Pope Gregory XIII.
Book Condition
Size – 14.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 4.5 cm (conservatively). 779pages.
Full leather binding, likely from the time (contemporary). Originallya gilt embossed tooled leather cover, extensively decorated (front biblicalcrucifixion can be made out and human profiles are displayed at the base) withtwo clasps.
The spine has five ribs, which have cracking and chipping atthe top (more extensive) and bottom. Thehead and tail band are still in place. Faint compartment lines between eachrib. A title, in ancient handwriting, can be discerned inside the topcompartment.
The boards are solid wood which can be discerned especiallyat a crack on the rear board which goes from the top edge to the nails for theclasp. The boards are covered byextensively tooled leather. On the frontthe impression of the cross is still apparent although most of the gilt isgone. The two figures at the base of thecross still have quite a bit of gold.The centerpiece is bound by a band with writing within, which may bediscernable. Three palm leaves of giltdecorate above and below the centerpiece.All are within a compartment with an interlocking pattern boundary. The rear board is tooled with a number ofdecorated compartments with a repeating pattern including leaves, vines andfaces. Some fraying at the corners of the boards.
At the top edge of the book block the title is written inold hand. During the 16thcentury books often weren’t stored with their spines facing out, and it issomewhat common to find the title written on the surface that was displayedoutward.
Of the original twobook closing clasps only one is complete and ready for use.
Inside both pastedowns are free from marks. At the front and rear there is one blank endpage. The title page has some writing inan old hand. There is a light waterstain through the first half of the book at which point it is no longerdiscernable. I have not reviewed everypage but I do not find any notations.The text block appears to be holding together well, although due to itsthickness and age I limit how far I open the boards.
About the Author
From Wikipedia - The Venerable Louis of Granada, O.P. (1505– 31 December 1588), was a Dominican friar who was noted as theologian, writerand preacher. He embarked upon the career of a preacher, in which he continuedwith extraordinary success during forty years. The fame of his preaching spreadbeyond the boundaries of his native land, and at the request of theCardinal-Infante, Dom Henrique of Portugal, son of King Manuel, he wastransferred to Portugal, where he became Prior Provincial of the PortugueseDominicans in 1557. His extraordinary sanctity, learning, and wisdom soonattracted the attention of the queen regent, who appointed him her confessorand counselor.
Besides ascetical theology, his published works treat ofScripture, dogma, ethics, biography and Church history. He is best known,however, for his ascetical writings. The work that achieved the greatestmeasure of success, is The Sinner\'s Guide (La Guia de Pecadores), published in1555. It is marked by a smooth, harmonious style of purest Spanish idiom whichhas merited for it the reputation of a classic, and by an unctuous eloquencethat has made it a perennial source of religious inspiration. It has been mostfavorably compared with Thomas à Kempis\'s \"Imitation of Christ\".
About the Translator
From Wikipedia - Isselt was born between 1530 and 1540 inAmersfoort in the Lordship of Utrecht. He studied at the University of Leuvenand became a priest. During the Dutch Revolt he went into exile in Cologne,where he became an active writer, recording contemporary events from a Catholicperspective. He also edited the works of Louis of Granada for publication inCologne, translating some from Spanish or Italian into Latin.
More Praise Found onWikipedia
“St. Francis de Saleshighly commended to a bishop-elect to have the whole works of Louis of Granada,and to regard them as a second breviary. He advised him to read them carefully,beginning with The Sinner\'s Guide. He said, \"But to read him with fruityou must not run through him hastily ; he must be pondered, and have his fullweight, and chapter after chapter must be mused upon and applied to the soulwith much thought and prayer to God. You must read him with reverence anddevotion, like a book containing the most useful inspirations man can receivefrom on high, and thereby reform all the powers of the soul.\"
“St. Teresa read Louis\' books and commanded her nuns to dothe same. She credited The Sinner\'s Guide with having converted over a millionsouls. In some religious rules and constitutions the works of Louis werementioned as almost obligatory spiritual reading for the novices. There was nobishop in Spain in the l7th and l8th centuries who did not eulogize, recommend,and even grant indulgences for the reading of the works of Fray Louis”
“Even heretics and atheists were readers and admirers ofFray Louis. Most notable is the case of Marchena – an atheist, revolutionary,liberal, and the sworn enemy of all spiritual writings. This man carried TheSinner\'s Guide around with him for 20 years, and not a day passed but that heread part of it. To an amazed man who discovered him reading this book,tattered and worn in testimony of its constant use, Marchena exclaimed:\"This book has a power over me that I cannot explain. I cannot read it norcan I stop reading it. I cannot read it because it convinces my understandingand moves my will in such a way that while I am reading it, I feel as much aChristian as you or any nun or as the missionaries who go to die for the Catholicfaith in China or Japan. I cannot stop reading it because I know of no book morewonderful in our language.\"
Other Links
Another book from the same edition has been scanned toGoogle Books (which is in much poorer condition) - class=\"MsoNormal\">If you’d like to read the book in English you can do so here–
1594 Sinner\'s Guide by Louis of Granada, Latin translation.Closure clasp intact.:
$739.99