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The Decameron

Giovanni Boccaccio

Start date: October 1, 2021

Finish date: December 31, 2021

Discussion: The Hefty Classics

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What Members Thought

Jul 03, 2010 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: italian-literature, audio-books, classics, historical-fiction, read-2014, fiction-14th-century

From BBC Radio 3 - Drama on 3:
Terry Jones introduces five ripping Renaissance yarns from The Decameron, starring John Finnemore, Ingrid Oliver, Carrie Quinlan, Lydia Leonard, Samuel Barnett and Colin McFarlane.

The one hundred stories which make up Giovanni Boccaccio's humane and comic masterpiece, come from all over the world. They are vividly reset by Boccaccio among the flourishing merchant classes in the cities of Renaissance Italy. But their witty, satirical, bawdy voice sounds utterly moder ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Sep 14, 2017 Karen rated it really liked it

This took me almost a month to finish. The translator Wayne Rebhorn was absolutely amazing (5 stars for him). The book is easy to read, due to the translation, but there are 100 short stories. The best part of this book is the introduction and the myriad of footnotes explaining the Italian nuances.

The Decameron takes place in 1348 Florence Italy, when the Black Plague was raging. A group of seven young women meet in church to decide how to face the horrific situation. Pampinea suggests they tak ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 01, 2011 Chrissie marked it as to-read

Shelves: hf, classics, shorts, long, medical, italy

I have this dusty old, black hardcover book sitting there in my library. It has been there for over 30 years, and I still haven't read it. I guess I shouuld at least give it a try. But I don't like short stories and won't it all feel so "out of date"?

if there is someone out there who has read this and can "sell" it to me, try to convince me please! ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 28, 2007 Laura rated it really liked it

same "type" of idea as Canterbury Tales, only much much better IMO. Sexy and hilarious, this is a book that has held remarkably well over time (as long as you get a version in nowadays-English). ...more

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