Set against the background of the Black Death of 1348, the hundred linked tales in Boccaccio's masterpiece are peopled by nobles, knights, nuns, doctors, lawyers, students, artists, peasants, pilgrims, servants, spendthrifts, thieves, gamblers, police-and lovers, both faithful and faithless.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Giovanni Boccaccio was born in Florence, Italy, in 1313, and he died there in 1375. His life thus coincided with the flowering of the early Renaissance and indeed his closest friend was Petrarch, the other towering literary figure of the period. During his lifetime, Boccaccio was a diplomat, businessman, and international traveler, as well as the creator of numerous works of prose and poetry. Of his achievements, The Decameron, completed sometime between 1350 and 1352, remains his lasting contribution—immensely popular from its original appearance to the present day—to world literature.
Mark Musa is a professor at the Center for Italian Studies at Indiana University. A former Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellow, Musa is the author of a highly acclaimed translation of Dante's Divine Comedy.
Mark Musa and Peter Bondanella are professors at the Center for Italian Studies at Indiana University. Mark Musa, a former Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellow, is the author of a highly acclaimed translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Peter Bondanella, a former Younger Humanist and Senior Fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has published, among other works, Machiavelli and the Art of Renaissance History and Federico Fellini: Essays in Criticism. He is coeditor of The Dictionary of Italian Literature and The Portable Machiavelli.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Unlike a lot of the writers who sprung out of the medieval period, the Decameron is extremely readable. 100 stories organized into 10-day chunks makes this book a classic piece of literature... and unlike Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, you don't have to wade through the language to get at the meaning (part of this has to do with the translation of Italian into modern English).
During the Plague of the mid-14th century, ten people (7 women and 3 men) escape the city of Florence to the then-countryside of Fiesole. Each day they elect a king or queen, who dictates the theme of the day's stories. Centering around love, lust, sex, and relationships between people, the stories in the Decameron transcend stereotypes of the middle ages and created a scintillating and fresh approach to the art of storytelling. The Decameron is one of my favorite novels; this is the second time I've read it, and it never ceases to amaze me by the depth of human life represented.
In addition, this is an excellent translation of the original; the translators manage to get at Boccaccio's meaning without destroying his prose.
During the Plague of the mid-14th century, ten people (7 women and 3 men) escape the city of Florence to the then-countryside of Fiesole. Each day they elect a king or queen, who dictates the theme of the day's stories. Centering around love, lust, sex, and relationships between people, the stories in the Decameron transcend stereotypes of the middle ages and created a scintillating and fresh approach to the art of storytelling. The Decameron is one of my favorite novels; this is the second time I've read it, and it never ceases to amaze me by the depth of human life represented.
In addition, this is an excellent translation of the original; the translators manage to get at Boccaccio's meaning without destroying his prose.
59 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Don't be intimidated by this medieval masterpiece. It is actually just a collection of very loosely related short stories, most of which are rather comical. You need not read them in one sitting and you need not read them all. In fact, the editors provide a list of their favorite stories (an alternative view is that they are telling you which ones to skip).
Great modern translation.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By B. Hartzler
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've tried to read these stories several times before but this is by far the best translation I've found yet. Very adult reading but passes for educational and is a great summer read!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting book!
A little hard to decipher the motives behind the author's tales and evaluate philosophically unless explained by a college professor or other literary professional. Read more
Published 1 month ago by McKenzie Bullock
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic
Enjoyed this book, it was not too difficult to read, it is an excellent copy. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Published 3 months ago by Patrick Mayfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Decameron Truly Classic
When I was in high school, History class mentioned the Index of Books, the books that the reactionary Catholic Church had banned. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dr. Larry J. Paden
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decameron review
Very pleased with the book. It provides a look at life and humor from another time.The product itself is very concise and an easy read.
Published 7 months ago by bill41
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
I had to buy this book for my history class and dreaded having to read it. When I did get around to reading it, I found the stories ridiculously funny. Read more
Published on February 6, 2011 by hannahtheham
5.0 out of 5 stars
An instant favorite
This is one of the most brilliant books that I have read. It veritably pulses with life and vigor, love and a little tragedy, all laced over with wit and humor. Read more
Published on December 27, 2010 by Adam Setliff
5.0 out of 5 stars
A suprisingly easy read
Funny, extremely entertaining, which is kind of shocking for medieval literature. I read the whole book in just 12 hours while sitting in the airport. Read more
Published on July 15, 2006 by Elena Krylova
5.0 out of 5 stars
If stranded on an island, this is the book to have.
100 stories to read time and again.
The Decameron contains many references to the church and its influence. Read more
The Decameron contains many references to the church and its influence. Read more
Published on December 5, 2005 by Snick77
5.0 out of 5 stars
Which Translation?
The translation that you choose will have an impact upon your enjoyment of any work written in a foreign language. Read more
Published on December 16, 2004 by Diego Banducci
5.0 out of 5 stars
Italy's Canterbury Tales
This is an awesome collection of a hundred stories told over ten days, by the young people Fiammetta, Dioneo, Filostrato, Neifile, Emilia, Elisa (or Elissa), Filomena, Panfilo,... Read more
Published on July 9, 2004 by Anyechka
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 15
books:
See all 15 books this book cites
- Famous Women (I Tatti Renaissance Library, 1) by Giovanni Boccaccio in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Back Matter
- Fates of Illustrious Men by Giovanni Boccaccio in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Back Matter
- The Divine Comedy (The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso) by Dante Alighieri in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and page 267
- Divine Comedy (Oxford World's Classics) by Dante Alighieri in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and page 267
- Dictionary of Italian Literature by Peter Bondanella in Front Matter
See all 15 books this book cites
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