The Decameron (Mentor) (Paperback)

by Giovanni Boccaccio (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The first and definitive diplomatic edition of Boccaccio's holograph MS... From a strictly textual viewpoint, all other editions of The Decameron are now superseded." -- Reference Books in the Humanities

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
An entertaining series of 100 stories told in a country villa outside the city of Florence by ten young noble men and women seeking to escape the plague. Vivid portraits of people from all stations in life. An Oxford University Press World Classic. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 693 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 5, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451621344
• ISBN-13: 978-0451621344
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,893,705 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars could be the best book you've ever read, January 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Decameron (Paperback)

I picked up Decameron expecting it to be dry and boring-- after all, it is hundreds of years old. But as soon as I started reading it, I was hooked-- first by Bocaccio's vivid description of life during the Black Plague, then by the hundred fabulous stories. Definitely more fun to read than any other book. Each story is entertaining, clever, and so humorous. This could be the best book you've ever read; I know it will always be one of mine.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The precursor to Chaucer's Cantebury Tales, April 3, 1998

By	Dragondazd of Shadowwings (akim01@lausd.k12.c... (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Decameron (Paperback)

If you read Chaucer's Cantebury Tales and found it twisted and amusing, this books is even better. A loose (in more ways than one) collection of 100 tales, this book was written to keep Italian maidens entertained during the Rennaissance. Want a highly amusing tale? Take your pick. An idea for a prank? There's plenty! Including pranks that have backfired...... This book is also loaded with rather bawdy if not outright shameless tales. Do not be mistaken by the literary merit of this masterpeice! It is indeed rather naughty, while something you could read for an English class. I suggest not trying to read the whole thing like I did(it too me a whole summer), but a story a day is well worth the read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Kindle customers beware!, March 18, 2009

By	Charles S. Houser (Binghamton, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon has linked this book to the page for Penguin's edition of The Decameron translated by G.H. McWilliam. After careful shopping for the "right translation," I ended up purchasing McWilliams'. And the more I read it the happier I am with my choice. When I saw that the book was also available for my Kindle I impulsively downloaded it. WARNING: This is NOT the McWilliam's translation (it seems to be a very old, public domain text); nor does it include McWilliams' excellent and conprehensive introduction.

My advice to Kindle customers: When buying classic literature in translation for downloading, always order a free sample first so you be sure it's the translation you want.