Who Would Like This Book:
This is the original binge-worthy classic! Under the guise of escaping the plague, ten lively young people spin 100 wild, witty, and sometimes scandalous short stories filled with love, clever tricks, dark humor, and a surprising modern take on sex and society. Expect plenty of laughs, biting satire on church corruption, and a fascinating window into medieval life. If you love classics, bawdy humor, smart storytelling, or want to see what inspired Chaucer and Shakespeare, you’ll have a blast with this collection. It’s especially great for anyone keen on literary history, storytelling structure, or a deep dive into human nature across the ages.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Its sheer size (hello, 800+ pages!), recurring themes, and sometimes repetitive plots can feel like a slog if you try to read it straight through. Some modern readers find the treatment of women and the graphic content jarring or outright disturbing, and the attitudes toward consent can be a dealbreaker. Plus, the book is rooted in its time: if you’re not into medieval mindsets, clever but dated jokes, or stories where characters are stock types rather than people you emotionally connect with, you might lose patience. Others say to enjoy it in small doses, not a marathon.
About:
The Decameron is a collection of 100 short stories told by ten young people who fled Florence to a country house to escape the Black Death. Each person tells a story every day for ten days, resulting in a hundred entertaining tales that cover various themes such as love, wit, practical jokes, and travel. The stories provide a glimpse into Medieval life, culture, and the impact of the pestilence during the late Middle Ages. Boccaccio's writing style is described as witty, satirical, and humorous, with clever narratives that are sometimes suspenseful and almost pornographic.
The book is a mix of bawdy and humorous stories that portray the lives of ordinary people during the plague, featuring themes like love in all its variations, from erotica to tragedy. The tales are entertaining, funny, and satirical, showcasing the sexual exploits of nobility and clergy, pranks and tricks between spouses and friends, and adventures abroad. Despite some stories being misogynistic or reflecting the time's cultural norms, the overall collection is seen as a window into the medieval world, offering insights into human nature and societal dynamics.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers/content warnings for The Decameron include explicit sexual content, misogyny, violence against women, and religious satire, which may be distressing to some readers.
Has Romance?
Romance is present in The Decameron but is portrayed in various forms, from comedic to tragic, encompassing both love stories and tales of seduction.
From The Publisher:
Set against the background of the Black Death of 1348, Giovanni Boccaccio's undisputed masterpiece recaptures both the tragedies and comedies of medieval life and is surely one of the greatest achievements in the history of literature.
Ratings (9)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (2) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (30):
Read It (9) | |
Want To Read (15) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (5) |
1 comment(s)
This was by far the most challenging book of 2020 but that's not to say it wasn't a good book. I didn't find it quite as entertaining or thrilling as some of the more modern books, but I enjoyed the story's and it feelt quite cozy and special to pick this book is and read a few stories now and then. It's not a book suitable to read fast or very large chunks at the time, no this needs some time and a careful eye, which I definitely need to get better at, but the pay of is great. Would love to read more modern works influenced by these stories
What can you read after
The Decameron?
About the Author:
Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-75) was an Italian author and poet who has long been honored-along with Petrarch and Dante-as one of the three fathers of Italian literature.
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