The only autobiography written by a sitting Pope, Pius II's (d. 1464) Commentaries are fascinating reading. Dispensing quickly with his early years, he moves on to his fascinating career, in which he served at, various times, as secretary to pope, anti-pope and emperor; cardinal of Siena; and Pope. The latter part of this volume deals with a detailed description of his trek from Rome to Mantua to convene a council with the ultimately unsuccessful intention of urging a crusade against the Turks. All the books in the I Tatti Renaissance Library present the the original Latin text with English translation on the facing page.