The Decameron

Ten young Florentines flee the Black Death of 1348 by escaping to a country villa overlooking the city. There they spend ten days telling each other one hundred stories. Their stories run the gamut of medieval genresromance, tragedy, comedy and farceand are rich with wit, earthiness and even bawdy irreverence.

Boccaccios reputation as one of the worlds greatest authors rests entirely on this singular, overflowing work. A tribute to the essential power of storytelling and laughter, even in the most trying times, The Decameron has been a source and inspiration for countless other storytellers over the centuries. Published on the 700th anniversary of Boccaccios birth, Wayne A. Rebhorns Decameron now speaks to us directly in a lively, contemporary... English (Stephen Greenblatt).