The Decameron
The Original English Translation by John Florio
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
Giovanni Boccaccio's 'The Decameron' is a masterpiece of Italian literature, consisting of one hundred tales told by seven women and three men seeking refuge from the bubonic plague in a secluded villa. Written in the early 14th century, this collection showcases Boccaccio's skill in storytelling and his keen observation of human nature. The tales cover a wide range of themes, from love and morality to wit and deception, making it a rich tapestry of medieval society. Boccaccio's elegant prose and clever narrative style captivate readers, inviting them into a world of intrigue and imagination. Boccaccio, a contemporary of Dante, was a Renaissance humanist and poet with a keen interest in literature and philosophy. Influenced by the literary traditions of ancient Greece and Rome, Boccaccio brought a fresh perspective to Italian literature. 'The Decameron' is a reflection of his literary brilliance and his deep understanding of human emotions and desires. I highly recommend 'The Decameron' to readers interested in medieval literature, Italian culture, and timeless storytelling. Boccaccio's work continues to inspire and captivate audiences, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a glimpse into the rich tapestry of the medieval world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In time for Giovanni Boccaccio's 700th birthday, Wayne A. Rebhorn, professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin and translator of The Prince and Other Writings by Machiavelli, has provided a strikingly modern translation of Boccaccio's medieval Italian classic. Fleeing Florence and the plague of 1348, 10 young men and women retreat to a country estate, "surrounded by meadows and marvelous gardens," where they spend their days in leisure while the Black Death ravages the city. To fill their time, and affirm life in the face of death, they tell stories: on each of 10 days, every character spins a tale on a theme. Thus, there are 100 stories in total, which range in tone from tragic to triumphant and from pious to bawdy, and which serve as monuments to the rich medieval life and society that the plague was to fundamentally alter. Rebhorn's translation is eminently readable and devoid of the stilted, antiquated speech associated with the classics. Indeed, at times the translator's rendering of Boccaccio's Italian into contemporary idiomatic American English feels jarring: "my cheesy-weesy, sweet honeybun of a wife." But on the whole, his translation's accessibility allows for the timeless humanity of the work to shine through. The Decameron affords a fascinating view into the lost world of late-medieval Italy, and the variety and volume of tales offers us a refuge and relief from the tragedies that haunt our own world.
