The Little Decameron

'The Little Decameron, a Selection From Boccaccio' presents a curated collection of tales from Giovanni Boccaccio’s masterpiece, one of the most influential works in Western literature. Set against the grim backdrop of the Black Death in 14th-century Italy, the stories are framed by a group of young people who flee the plague-stricken city of Florence to seek refuge in the countryside. To pass the time, they exchange a series of stories that capture the breadth of the human experience.This selection highlights the wit, humor, and narrative craft that have made Boccaccio a cornerstone of the literary canon. The tales range from the tragic to the bawdy, exploring themes of fortune, intelligence, and the complexities of romantic love. Through these narratives, Boccaccio offers a vivid portrait of medieval society, stripping away pretension to reveal the universal desires and follies of mankind. Giovanni Boccaccio’s work remains a vital example of early Renaissance prose, celebrated for its shift toward naturalism and its deep psychological insight. Readers will find in this volume a perfect introduction to the rich storytelling tradition that influenced centuries of writers, from Chaucer to Shakespeare.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.