SOURCE: An introduction to “The Life of St. Louis,” by John of Joinville, translated by Rene Hague, Sheed and Ward, 1955, pp. 1–19.

In the following essay, Hague reviews the debate surrounding the dating of Vie de Saint Louis, comments on the content of the work, and offers an overview of the textual history of the extant manuscripts.

John of Joinville was a man whose generous spirit was easily moved to admiration; particularly was he moved when he saw a man of high rank sacrificing all that was dear and devoting even his life to what was to him the greatest of all causes: the armed fight against the enemies of the faith and the protection or rescue of the “humble folk of Our Lord”, the poor nameless pilgrims who aided Christendom only by their suffering. When his King was canonised, there was but one thing that clouded John's joy...