85 pages • 2 hours read
The Decameron
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Book Brief
1072
Novel • Fiction
Florence, Italy • 1340s
1353
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio is set during the Black Death in Florence, where seven young women and three young men escape to a countryside villa. Over ten days, they narrate 100 stories on various themes like love, trickery, and survival, providing a mix of humorous, tragic, and insightful tales. The storytelling framework showcases diverse human experiences and reflects on societal values of 14th-century Italy. This collection contains themes of death and societal collapse.
Bittersweet
Playful
Romantic
Humorous
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
41,740 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio receives praise for its vivid storytelling and rich depiction of medieval life, offering a compelling and varied narrative structure. Critics highlight its exploration of human behaviors and social norms, though some note its overtly mature themes and dense prose can be challenging. Overall, it remains a landmark in classic literature.
Who Should Read The Decameron?
Readers who revel in medieval history, captivating storytelling, and societal satire will enjoy The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. Fans of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and Marguerite de Navarre's Heptaméron will appreciate its rich narrative tapestry and incisive exploration of human nature.
41,740 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Fiammetta
Fiammetta
Noted for her beauty, she is an anxious yet generous member of the group, who only begins to assert her own ideas when she takes on the role of queen on the fifth day.
Dioneo
Dioneo
Known for his wit and confidence, Dioneo often tells lewd, subversive stories and is distinctively allowed to tell the final story of each day, generally free from thematic constraints.
Filostrato
Filostrato
A more reserved and sometimes sulky member who, as king for a day, chooses tragic story themes, reflecting his own tendencies towards unhappiness and internal turmoil.
1072
Novel • Fiction
Florence, Italy • 1340s
1353
Adult
18+ years
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