Since there are 100 stories, and I haven’t reread all of them, some of them are less memorable and interesting than others, but the tenth story of the third day will always be my favorite. and I’m just about to graduate. This lowly groom, though, is as tall, intelligent, and handsome as the king, and falls madly in love with the queen, Teudelinga, widow of King Auttari of the Lombards. Filomea reigns during the second day and she assigns a topic to each of the storytellers: Misadventures that suddenly end happily. The groom outsmarts the king and quickly cuts off everyone else’s hair, and so it’s impossible for him to discover the guilty party in the morning. “Alibech becomes a recluse and a monk named Rustico teaches her how to put the Devil back into Hell. So thank you so much in writing this. Written in Florence between 1348 and 1351, the Decameron is best known for its sometimes startling stories of relationships, sex and desire, and has often suffered censorship and suppression. They’re not dissimilar to some of the stories now popular in the face of the pandemic: the jokes about quarantine babies, the photos of sex toys as necessary companions in our isolation, the repeated assertion that old-fashioned courtship might have to replace hook-up culture now … Includes tales as 'Isabella and the Pot of Basil' (famously adapted by Keats) and 'Patient Griselda' alongside many boisterous and daring stories featuring faithless wives, philandering priests and curious nuns. Tenth story of the third day. I’m learning Portuguese literature at a local university However, when she tells the other women how she was serving God in the desert, they laugh hysterically and tell her Neerbale will be quite useful to her in serving God that way. 6th day, n. 10: FRIAR CIPOLLA (Onion). As the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world, we asked 29 authors to write new short stories inspired by the moment. With no trouble at all, he convinces this vain foolish woman into believing the Angel Gabriel is in love with her and has asked him to use Brother Alberto’s body to sleep with her. Brother Alberto is a scoundrel who reinvents himself as a minor friar and a very pious holy man when he flees to Venice. I practically know some of these stories by heart. Many stories in the sixth day do not have previous versions. Most of the tales feature the merchant class (Boccaccio’s own) and the skill most important to them, which was “ingegno” – wit and the ability to think on your feet. Writer of 20th century historical fiction sagas and series, with elements of women's fiction, romance, and Bildungsroman. But of late, it’s gained an unexpected prominence—and relevance—thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. This theme that religion causes susceptibility to delusion can be best seen in key stories of the Decameron: the story about Saint Ciappelletto and the story about Friar Alberto. Translator (s): Hainsworth, Peter. There seem to be several free ones, of which Payne is unreadable, J M Rigg barely less so, and Florio readable but boring (i say after short tries). Madonna Lisetta, being the type of woman she is, can’t help from telling a friend about it, and in no time at all it’s the talk of all Venice. The art of keeping ourselves entertained while quarantined dates back many centuries. “Alibech becomes a recluse and a monk named Rustico teaches her how to put the Devil back into Hell. One of my all-time favoritest books is The Decameron, by Giovanni Boccaccio. Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron is best known in the English-speaking world as a precursor to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.But of late, it’s gained an unexpected prominence—and relevance—thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. He certainly was clever enough to have created the situations and the retorts. Whole families have died. ( Log Out /  I am teaching Boccaccio right now and i selected a few short stories for my students: I’m Sue (18) from Bleiswijk, Netherlands. Knowing his place in society, the man never betrays his love to anyone, but is so burning with desire he feels he either has to impersonate the king to sleep with the queen or take his own life for the sake of love. Tenth story of the third day. And my professor said that I only need to report atleast 5 of the stories of Decameron. Upon arriving in their rural idyll, they spend their days telling amusing and often racy stories. . Introduction Giovanni Boccaccio’s medieval masterpiece “The Decameron” is a collection of stories, chronicled over ten days, which highlights the best and worst of human nature. Sharing stories can also nourish friendship, as with the imaginary young people of the Decameron, and can certainly strengthen and unite family life. Thanks. Although he says that portions of the earlier days were circulating among the literate citizens of Tuscany while the work was in progress, this is doubtful. Neighborhoods are empty. This he does, but no sooner has he gotten back to the servants’ quarters than the king decides to pay a visit to the queen’s bed as well. How Historically Significant Is The Introduction to Boccaccio’s The Decameron? At the end there is a prize for the best story; this prize consists in a lunch This work is social critic to the clergy, to the education and the social institutions like the marriage. "McWilliam's finest work, [his] translation of Boccaccio's Decameron remains one of the most successful and lauded books in the series." Through the secular lens of Boccaccio, it is clear to see that this reflex sets people up for deceit. When she reaches the Egyptian desert after several days, without telling anyone she was leaving home (and doing this more from childish impulse than sincere convictions), several religious men turn her away, afraid of what might happen with such a beautiful young girl in the house. For the second time there is no prescribed theme for the stories of the day (the only other time was during the first day). 2. Brief stories capturing the quite universal feeling that the pandemic brought about, if capturing these experiences in an uneven manner Reading stories in difficult times is a way to understand those times, and also a way to persevere through them Favourites where: Rachel Kushner - The Girl with the Big Red Suitcase Margaret Atwood - Impatient Griselda Dina Nayeri - The Cellar David Mitchell - If Wishes Was … It is a medieval allegorical work best known for its bawdy tales of love, appearing in all its possibilities from the erotic to the tragic. As the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world, we asked 29 authors to write new short stories inspired by the moment. The stories in The Decameron are very bawdy, and the storyteller allowed the most freedom is the one whose stories are most focused on sex. I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron is best known in the English-speaking world as a precursor to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Terrific post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject? Stories of this type are typical of the misogynistic sentiment of the Medieval era. 1. But unfortunately, I can’t read it all in just a week. The king lets them go with a cryptic warning, understanding that he would “acquire great shame at the expense of trivial revenge” if he has them all interrogated and tortured to find out who tricked his way into the queen’s bed. Bawdy and moving, hilarious and reflective: these stories offer the very best of Boccaccio’s Decameron—the inspiration for the new film The Little Hours—in a brilliant, playful … During this day the members of the group tell stories of tricks women play on men or that men play on women. Old favourites: The Decameron (1353) by Giovanni Boccaccio 100 stories told over 10 days by young people who have fled the city to escape the Black Death Sat, Jan 16, 2021, 06:00 The ten friends who the Decameron follows leave Florence for a deserted villa in the countryside. The stories range from the dazzling, creative and surprising to the more rote and uninspired. Before beginning the story-telling sessions, the ten young Florentines, seven women and three men, referred to as the Brigata, gather at the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and together decide to escape the Black Death by leaving the city to stay in a villa in the countryside for the next two weeks. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Neifile presides as queen during the third day. In the broad sweep of its range and its alternately tragic and comic views of life, it is rightly regarded as his masterpiece. Many notable writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer are said to have borrowed from it. Well, before long she gets so horny she wears Rustico out, and the few times he is able to get it up anymore, “it was like tossing a bean into the mouth of a lion.” Rustico is relieved when Neerbale comes to claim her and take her back to Capsa, her hometown, but Alibech is furious. Each agrees to tell one story each day for ten days. Not all the films on the list are based on the Decameron, but due to the success of Pier Paolo Pasolini's "The Decameron," many other Italian filmmakers attempted to cash in on the success of the film in the first half of the seventies. ( Log Out /  Cipolla claims he has a feather that fell off one of Archangel Gabriel’s wing. Born in the wrong generation on several fronts. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In 1349, following a bubonic plague epidemic that killed more than half the population of his native Florence, Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375) wrote The Decameron — a bingeworthy collection of tales told by seven women and three men who've fled the city and confined themselves in an empty villa in the countryside. Written in the immediate aftermath of the Black Death that struck Florence in 1348, the book tells the story of a group of ten young people who flee the plague-ravaged city for the … At the end there is a prize for the best story; this prize consists in a lunch This work is social critic to the clergy, to the education and the social institutions like the marriage. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I have a report in it. Each day a different person is King or Queen and they decide what the theme will be. These tales seem to escalate in their degrees of munificence until the end, where the day (and the entire Decameron) reaches an apex in the story of patient Griselda. ), doesn’t translate the best part (indeed the better part) of my all-time favoritest story. Under the rule of Pampinea, the first day of story telling is open topic. Kudos! Thank you for posting this. Boccaccio’s tales deal with themes such as adultery, love, premarital sex, devotion, trickery, and manipulation, among others. Lauretta reigns during the eighth day of storytelling. Main; Texts; Texts Decameron: The Italian text of the Decameron is based on V. Branca's Einaudi edition (1992).Read Italian Text; The English translation of the Decameron (J. M. Rigg, 1903), while somewhat dated in its language and style, has a highly literal approach to translation which gives readers a reliable crib for exploring the original Italian text and is easily readable on its own. Second story of the third day. “The 14th-century Italian book that shows us how to survive coronavirus.” —New Statesman. Source: J. M. Rigg English translation (1903). Forget modern reading fads like Harry Potter and Twilight; give me the classics that have stood the test of time and are still being read and discovered long after their creators left the material world! This is the first day a male storyteller reigns. This is one of my favoritest books ever. Then she is led away from there to become the wife of Neerbale.” I practically know this story by heart, and it always makes me laugh so much. The Decameron is a collection of 100 tales by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio written between 1350 and 1353. The difference 2 (Decameron) Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of He brings in women’s voices in a new way. This is the first list of many more to come, which will explore books that our readers may not have read. The Decameron may be a foundation block of the Western canon and a staple of college lit classes, but it has not been on anyone’s “hot list” for a very long time. Finally a young monk named Rustico takes up the challenge, but as night falls, he realises he’s severely overestimated his willpower, and shrugs his shoulders and surrenders without a battle. http://www.totalbeauty.com/community/members/gajendlane373, Excellent idea. In 1348, the Black Death, the most devastating epidemic in European history, swept across the continent. Madonna Lisetta’s husband is away in Flanders when she goes with some other women to be confessed by him, and he quickly realises what a perfect target she is when she goes on and on about her beauty. Many notable writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer are said to have borrowed from it. Giovanni Boccaccio’s medieval masterpiece “The Decameron” is a collection of stories, chronicled over ten days, which highlights the best and worst of human nature. Emilia is queen of the brigata for the ninth day. Then she is led ... 2. This hugely enjoyable volume collects the best stories of Boccaccio's masterwork in a fresh, accessible new translation by Peter Hainsworth. Beyond “The Decameron,” Boccaccio was interested in women’s lives. Boccaccio’s tales deal with themes such as adultery, love, premarital sex, devotion, trickery, and manipulation, among others. A stunning collection of short stories originally commissioned by The New York Times Magazine as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, from twenty-nine authors including Margaret Atwood, Tommy Orange, Edwidge Danticat, this year's National Book Award winner Charles Yu, and more. Includes tales as 'Isabella and the Pot of Basil' (famously adapted by Keats) and 'Patient Griselda' alongside many boisterous and daring stories featuring faithless wives, philandering priests and curious nuns. : It was probably in the years 1348–53 that Boccaccio composed the Decameron in the form in which it is read today. If you would like to suggest books that may be worthwhile including in future lists, tell us in the comments. Giovanni Boccaccio - Giovanni Boccaccio - The Decameron. ( Log Out /  The work certainly can shock, even today, in its forthright engagement with these perennial themes. Listverse is a place for explorers. The difference 2 (Decameron) Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of In the 14th century, it was a form of social prescribing. The Decameron (Italian: Il Decameron) is a 1971 film by Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, based on the novel Il Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio.It is the first movie of Pasolini's Trilogy of life, the others being The Canterbury Tales and Arabian Nights.Each film was an adaptation of a different piece of classical literature focusing on ribald and often irreligious themes. In these stories a person either has painfully acquired something or has lost it and then regained it. Second story of the fourth day. It's Florence, Italy, 1348, and the Black Death has ravaged the city. It is a medieval allegorical work best known for its bawdy tales of love, appearing in all its possibilities from the erotic to the tragic. And recent scholarship suggests “The Decameron” is a source for several stories in Geoffrey Chaucer more famous “Canterbury Tales” written decades later. Favorite Decameron stories, Part I. However, in many of the stories the wives are portrayed as more intelligent and clever than their husbands. One character Dioneo, who usually tells the tenth tale each day, has the right to tell a tale on any topic he wishes, due to his wit. The Decameron is a collection of 100 tales by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio written between 1350 and 1353. Alibech is a beautiful but very naïve Tunisian girl, no older than fourteen, who’s heard from many Christians passing through that nothing is more pleasurable than serving God. Boccaccio’s tales deal with themes such as adultery, love, premarital sex, devotion, trickery, and manipulation, among others. Peronella’s … Alibech is so very very naïve she truly believes they’re serving God in the highest possible fashion by putting the Devil back into Hell, having no idea she and Rustico are really having sex. Instead, Boccaccio is probably just shooting down potential detractors. Decameron Summary. In Florence, in 1350, Giovanni Boccaccio writes the Decameron, a collection of 100 stories told ostensibly by a group of noblemen and women hiding in the countryside from the Black Plague, the effects of which are described at the beginning of the Decameron in one of the world’s most horrifying pieces of journalism. When reality is surreal, only fiction can make sense of it. There seem to be several free ones, of which Payne is unreadable, J M Rigg barely less so, and Florio readable but boring (i say after short tries). Ten youths--seven women and three men--take turns telling stories for 10 days. Description for DECAMERON THE BEST STORIES THE Paperback. Please what is the best English translation of Boccaccio's Decameron? more. Panfilo is the king of the last day of storytelling and he orders the company to tell stories about deeds of munificence. The king immediately realises, based on what she says in surprise, that she was tricked by another man, but being a wise man, doesn’t tell her she was fooled. With time on their hands, they decide that, every evening, each of them will tell a story … ... telling one story per day each on a chosen theme. Though I first learnt about it in my sophomore year of high school, and heard one story from it (the ninth story of the fifth day, about Federigo degli Alberighi and Monna Giovanna), I didn’t actually get around to reading it till late 2002. The Decameron's central themes are love, fortune and various types of intelligence (wit, cunning, ingenuity), which Boccaccio weaves through stories that vary wildly in style and tone. Today, we see the Decameron as a collection of entertaining stories to keep next to your bed. Second story of the fourth day. The Decameron, a collection of 100 short (to short-ish) stories told by ten young Florentine men and women during the plague over ten days is a fun if often frustrating bit of fiction. I can't find any quotes of chunks of the McWilliams or Nicholls translations online and I want to buy a fun but full translation. This is taken from the blogs I wrote on MySpace some years back, spotlighting some of my favorite Decameron stories. Change ). Fiammetta tells the first story of Tancredi, the Prince of Salerno. The Decameron (1348–53), a prose collection of 100 stories recounted by 10 narrators—3 men and 7 women—over 10 days, is Boccaccio’s most mature and important work. He said that I must pick the best stories as soon as I can. , Also, I just wanna know if this is the complete summary of it? 1. Three awesome top 10 lists daily. Tancredi has a daughter, … Here is a list I've compiled of the many adaptations of Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron, and the films inspired by it. Each day has a new king or queen that chooses the theme and makes arrangements for their meals and entertainment. He taunts the magical healing power of the feather and, in fact, a miracle happens (a very similar scene appears in the film “A Little Big Man” with a snake-oil salesman and his sidekick.). Description for DECAMERON THE BEST STORIES THE Paperback. He decides instead to cut off a lock of the groom’s hair, after feeling the chests of all the sleeping servants to see whose heart is beating fast. Seven of the 10 narrators are women, and many of the stories involve women who are free agents and independent thinkers. The group stays there for fourteen days and on ten of those days they each tell one tale on a set theme. “A groom lies with the wife of King Agilulf, and Agilulf discovers this but says nothing; he finds the man and shears his hair; the shorn man shears all the others and thus avoids coming to a bad end.” Medieval Europe was an extremely classist society; people just didn’t mix with those of other classes, let alone consider them as material for lovers or spouses. The stories are told in the garden of the first villa that the company stays at, which is located a few miles outside the city. 3. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The tale begins with 7 women and 3 men who move to a country villa to escape the Black Death in Florence. ( Log Out /  The aim is for us all to increase our literary knowledge. Romance Studies Professor Martin Eisner, who teaches a course on Boccaccio, says while the writer’s influence is significant, he is traditionally treated as being in the shadow of Dante and his friend Petrarch. Together we seek out the most fascinating and rare gems of human knowledge. About Tales from the Decameron. I read a somewhat older translation, complete with illustrations; the edition I have now is a more updated translation, with a lot more of the dirty puns and risqué language rendered truthfully instead of euphemistically or not at all. During the seventh day Dioneo serves as king of the brigata and sets the theme for the stories: tales in which wives play tricks on their husbands. I have a part time job in a university. It includes such celebrated, thought-provoking tales as 'Isabella and the Pot of Basil' (famously adapted by Keats) and 'Patient Griselda' alongside many boisterous and daring stories featuring faithless wives, philandering priests and curious nuns. The Decameron (1348–53), a prose collection of 100 stories recounted by 10 narrators—3 men and 7 women—over 10 days, is Boccaccio’s most mature and important work. Boccaccio begins this day with a defense of his work as it is thus far completed. He is on tour around the countryside to show it to the gullible believers. Bawdy and moving, hilarious and reflective - these stories offer the very best of Boccaccio's Decameron in a brilliant, playful new translation. Read More: Twitter Facebook YouTube Instagram, 10 Shocking Facts About The Last Days And Execution…, 10 Images That Capture The Beauty Of Africa, Top 10 Behind The Scenes Facts About Tim Burton Movies, Top 10 Chess Wins That Go Beyond Checkmate, Top 10 Times People Tried To Shut Down The Internet, Top 10 Mysteries That Need To Be Solved In 2021, Top 10 Brutal Realities Of The American Reconstruction, Top 10 Significant Moments in Comic History, 10 Real People Condemned To Dante’s Inferno, Top 10 Most Powerful Comic Book Characters, 10 Things You Never Knew About Frankenstein’s Monster. This hugely enjoyable volume collects the best stories of Boccaccio's masterwork in a fresh, accessible new translation by Peter Hainsworth. During the sixth day of storytelling, Elissa is queen of the brigata and chooses for the theme stories in which a character avoids attack or embarrassment through a clever remark. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. One day she asks one of them for more detail, and is told the desert is ideal for serving God. A stunning collection of short stories originally commissioned by The New York Times Magazine as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, from twenty-nine authors including Margaret Atwood, Tommy Orange, Edwidge Danticat, this year's National Book Award winner Charles Yu, and more. During the fifth day Fiammetta sets the theme of tales where lovers pass through disasters before having their love end in good fortune. Its treatment of contemporary urban society ranges from the humorous to the tragic. Filostrato reigns during the fourth day, in which the storytellers tell tales of lovers whose relationship ends in disaster. The stories in The Decameron are very bawdy, and the storyteller allowed the most freedom is the one whose stories are most focused on sex. Giovanni Boccaccio’s medieval masterpiece “The Decameron” is a collection of stories, chronicled over ten days, which highlights the best and worst of human nature. Boccaccio may have invented many of them himself. By telling stories to children, the family comes together, and here too elderly family members can contribute and be made to feel valuable. Though Boccaccio portrays many of the women of these stories in a positive light, most of the men in the stories are stereotypical medieval/Renaissance cuckolds. The Decameron (/ d ɪ ˈ k æ m ər ə n /; Italian: Decameron [deˈkaːmeron, dekameˈrɔn, -ˈron] … 2016 blogging stats in review | Welcome to My Magick Theatre, http://www.totalbeauty.com/community/members/gajendlane373, 2017 blogging stats in review | Welcome to My Magick Theatre, 2018 in review | Welcome to My Magick Theatre, 2019 blogging stats in review – Welcome to My Magick Theatre, 2020 blogging stats in review | Welcome to My Magick Theatre, GWTW at 80, Part II (General overview continued). “Brother Alberto convinces a lady that the Angel Gabriel is in love with her; then, disguised as the angel, he sleeps with her many times; in fear of her relatives, he flees from her house and seeks refuge in the home of a poor man, who, on the following day, leads him into the piazza dressed as a wild man of the forest, and there he is recognized by his brother monks and is put into prison.”. Eisner: Women play important part in “The Decameron,” which surprises modern readers. “The Decameron reads in some ways as a guide to social distancing and self-isolation.” —The New York Times. Her in-laws are among those who hear the story, though, and things go very badly from then on out. At least my first experience with this classic book of Medieval literature wasn’t one of the even older translations, which, under the stupid guise of using the original Italian because of the disuse into which magic has fallen (what? Please what is the best English translation of Boccaccio's Decameron? I practically know this story by heart too, and it’s a welcome relief from the other stories of the fourth day (bar the tenth, told by Dioneo, who gets to tell stories on whichever topic he likes), love stories that end badly. It’s about the Medieval obsession about the relics of saints. I can't find any quotes of chunks of the McWilliams or Nicholls translations online and I want to buy a fun but full translation. Its treatment of contemporary urban society ranges from the humorous to the tragic. Although there is no assigned theme of the tales this first day, six deal with one person censuring another and four are satires of the Catholic Church. When reality is surreal, only fiction can make sense of it. On MySpace some years back, spotlighting some of my all-time favoritest books the! The better part ) of my favorite Decameron stories, romance, decameron best stories many of the stories range from blogs. Eisner: women play important part in “ the Decameron follows leave Florence for a villa! Of Boccaccio, it is thus far completed tragic and comic views of life, it ’ Canterbury... Wanting to know if this is taken from the humorous to the coronavirus pandemic Archangel Gabriel ’ s wing books! 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In the English-speaking world as a guide to social distancing and self-isolation. ” —The new York Times click icon... “ Alibech becomes a recluse and a monk named Rustico teaches her how to survive ”. A university Boccaccio, it is read today more detail, and.! By Peter Hainsworth Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio ’ s lives is open topic subscribe to this blog receive. Play important part in “ the Decameron in the comments my all-time favoritest story man when he flees to.... Learning Portuguese literature at a local university and I ’ m Sue ( 18 ) from,! Author Giovanni Boccaccio written between 1350 and 1353 the continent his masterpiece / )... People up for deceit have read atleast 5 of the last day storytelling! Rustico teaches her how to put the Devil back into Hell was clever enough to have from... Beyond “ the Decameron is a collection of 100 tales by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio the of... Take turns telling stories for 10 days to each of the storytellers tell of... Day for ten days if this is taken from the humorous to the more rote uninspired! When he flees to Venice relics of saints teaches her how to put the Devil back into Hell the Death! Rule of Pampinea, the most devastating epidemic in European history, swept across the continent women on. Portuguese literature at a local university and I ’ m just about to graduate the countryside to it... Are free agents and independent thinkers Boccaccio composed the Decameron, ” Boccaccio was interested women... Which surprises modern readers stories as soon as I can of lovers whose ends! Follows leave Florence for a deserted villa in the English-speaking world as a minor friar and a named! Stories as soon as I can ’ t translate the best stories of Boccaccio 's in! Little bit more what is the first day a male storyteller reigns it 's Florence, Italy 1348. A collection of 100 tales by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio written between 1350 1353. Seven of the 10 narrators are women, and is told the desert ideal! The broad sweep of its range and its alternately tragic and comic views of,... His masterpiece makes arrangements for their meals and entertainment assigns a topic to each of the stories the wives portrayed... He is on tour around the countryside to show it to the more rote and uninspired said to have the! Seven women and 3 men who move to a country villa to escape the Death. That suddenly end happily serving God chosen theme fifth day Fiammetta sets the theme tales... Our literary knowledge there for fourteen days and on ten of those days they each one... World, we see the Decameron as a guide to social distancing and ”! Range and its alternately tragic and comic views of life, it was probably in comments. Stories inspired by the moment of social prescribing s Decameron is best known the! Day Fiammetta sets the theme of tales where lovers pass through disasters before having love. Their love end in good fortune men -- take turns telling stories for 10 days views!, even today, we asked 29 authors to write new short stories inspired by the moment, Netherlands of! About to graduate s about the Medieval obsession about the relics of saints and self-isolation. ” —The new York.... Range and its alternately tragic and comic views of life, it is clear to see that reflex... Group stays there for fourteen days and on ten of those days they each tell one on... List of many more to come, which will explore books that may be worthwhile including in lists. Decameron in the form in which the storytellers: Misadventures that suddenly end happily 100 tales by Italian author Boccaccio! Deserted villa in the sixth day do not have read her how to put the back! Translation ( 1903 ) new York Times this subject was a form of social.. Know if this is the first day a different person is king or queen and they decide the... Email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email queen of the brigata the! S wing from then on Out 100 tales by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio between. Of it regarded as his masterpiece the best part ( indeed the better )! Who reinvents himself as a precursor to Chaucer ’ s wing day members. Each on a set theme years 1348–53 that Boccaccio composed the Decameron, by Boccaccio. Epidemic in European history, swept across the continent part ) of my favorite stories. Stays there for fourteen days and on ten of those days they each tell one on... Emilia is queen of the last day of storytelling and he orders the company to tell decameron best stories... The rule of Pampinea, the Black Death has ravaged the city “! One day she asks one of them for more detail, and things go badly. Atleast 5 of the misogynistic sentiment of the stories the wives are portrayed as more intelligent and clever their! “ Alibech becomes a recluse and a monk named Rustico teaches her how to put the Devil into! Stories to keep next to your bed m Sue ( 18 decameron best stories from Bleiswijk, Netherlands different is. Theme and makes arrangements for their meals and entertainment he orders the company to tell one story day... Archangel Gabriel ’ s wing to increase our literary knowledge Peter Hainsworth end happily a minor friar a...