The Decameron (c.1351) is an entertaining series of one hundred stories written in the wake of the Black Death. The stories are told in a country villa outside the city of Florence by ten young noble men and women who are seeking to escape the ravages of the plague. Boccaccio's skill as a dramatist is masterfully displayed in these vivid portraits of people from all stations in life, with plots that revel in a bewildering variety of human reactions.
 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
 Looking for something good to read? Browse our picks for 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime, brought to you by the Amazon Book Editors. |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
'This new translation of The Decameron is especially valuable for the manner in which it accurately imitates the divergent tones and structures of Boccaccio's prose. Boccaccio's art is an exercise in brinkmanship which leads characters and readers alike into a turmoil of moral and social disorder only to retrieve them within his formal literary structure at the end. In common with the main text, this introduction will prove very useful both to the general reader and to the student unable to read in the Italian.' Christopher C. Stevens. Italian Studies, XLIX, 1994
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian
Original Language: Italian
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'The Decameron' is a series of 100 stories, ten stories told each night by ten different people who had left the city for a country sojourn to escape a time of plague. Giovanni Boccaccio, an Italian author known as part of the founding trinity of Italian literature (the others are Dante and Petrarca), was born in 1313, and produced most of his literary works by his mid-30s. The ten characters in 'The Decameron' were all young people, much like Boccaccio, and the passions, interests and issues of his own age is illustrated among these folk -- Boccaccio's possibly-fictitious love, Fiammetta, is similarly one of the characters here.
This edition by Norton does not include all 100 stories, but rather 21 selected stories, many of the more popular ones, selected by professors Mark Musa and Peter Bondanella (professors at my university when I was there 20 years ago), who are also known for their editing and translation of works by Dante and Machiavelli. There are selections from each 'day' (set of 10 stories), as well as a few of the extra texts, such as a prologue, introduction, and overall conclusion by Boccaccio. These are edited to fit together, as Boccaccio's tales often would wind from one story to the next, making a selection of disconnected stories difficult in transition without editing.
There are also two different kinds of critical analytical materials included in this Norton Critical Edition. The first includes personal correspondence samples, particularly between Boccaccio and Petrarca; these date even after the writing of 'The Decameron', showing the interest and reactions. These materials include other contemporary and closely-following generations' reactions and influences from 'The Decameron'. Read more ›
This edition by Norton does not include all 100 stories, but rather 21 selected stories, many of the more popular ones, selected by professors Mark Musa and Peter Bondanella (professors at my university when I was there 20 years ago), who are also known for their editing and translation of works by Dante and Machiavelli. There are selections from each 'day' (set of 10 stories), as well as a few of the extra texts, such as a prologue, introduction, and overall conclusion by Boccaccio. These are edited to fit together, as Boccaccio's tales often would wind from one story to the next, making a selection of disconnected stories difficult in transition without editing.
There are also two different kinds of critical analytical materials included in this Norton Critical Edition. The first includes personal correspondence samples, particularly between Boccaccio and Petrarca; these date even after the writing of 'The Decameron', showing the interest and reactions. These materials include other contemporary and closely-following generations' reactions and influences from 'The Decameron'. Read more ›
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By "jazzrage"
Format:Paperback
This edition of the Decameron is accurate, uncensored and filled with fascinating footnotes. After having read The Canterbury Tales, I was looking for its companion piece and this is the definitive edition. This gives a real feel for medieval life and is humorous, bawdy and an entertaining read as well.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Boccaccio's _Decameron_ is a collection of 100 tales: 10 stories told by 10 refugees from the Black Death. This collection only includes 21 of them, which was a disappointment - I had hoped to read all 100. (My mistake for not paying closer attention.) With that said, the selections included were fantastic and certainly whetted my appetite for more.
The literary criticism of the stories was of only passing interest, but did provide some depth to my understanding of the stories, the author and the times.
For those seeking a taste of the Decameron, I highly recommend it. If, like me you were looking for the entire collection, look elsewhere. Regardless, a very worthwhile read.
The literary criticism of the stories was of only passing interest, but did provide some depth to my understanding of the stories, the author and the times.
For those seeking a taste of the Decameron, I highly recommend it. If, like me you were looking for the entire collection, look elsewhere. Regardless, a very worthwhile read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By perry
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having studied english literature, having studied a bit of french literature, I fell upon this gem of italian literature and was amazed by the sheer volume of information surrounding and explaining the stories, incredibly done, and the stories, oh the stories, thoroughly enjoyable...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read!
The stories were fascinating and the entire book was well written (or possibly well translated). Some would perhaps think this book rather long but the stories themselves are... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Comfort first
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Condition
book arrived in a great condition. i couldnt tell if it was new or used beacuse it hardly had marks and or signs of wearing.
Published on October 15, 2011 by Rose
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book not in condition the seller claimed
The book has all kinds of writing on it. The seller should have specified the condition of the book.
Published on February 15, 2010 by Patricia
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Decameron (Oxford World's Classics)
This is an easy to read book and, undoubtedly, has been well translated. I read the Canterbury Tales from the same series and enjoyed it more. Read more
Published on November 9, 2006 by N. J. Clifford
New customer? Start here.
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
See all 100 books this book cites
- Orlando Furioso: A Romantic Epic: Part 1 (Penguin Classics) (Pt. 1) by Ludovico Ariosto in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Orlando Furioso (Oxford World's Classics) by Ludovico Ariosto in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Golden Ass (Oxford World's Classics) by Apuleius in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Golden Ass (Dodo Press) by Lucius Apuleius in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Golden Pot and Other Tales: A New Translation by Ritchie Robertson (Oxford World's Classics) by E. T. A. Hoffmann in Back Matter
See all 100 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > Education & Reference
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics
- Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Movements & Periods
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories > Single Author
- Books > New, Used & Rental Textbooks > Humanities > Literature
