The Decameron (Boccaccio)

The Decameron, by Giovanni Boccaccio, is a collection of 100 short stories told over ten days by a group of ten young people escaping the Black Death in 14th-century Italy. Each day’s stories explore themes like love, wit, morality, and human nature, blending humor, tragedy, and insight. The work highlights the complexities of human behavior and social life, offering a lively and realistic portrayal of medieval life. Celebrated for its vivid storytelling and psychological depth, The Decameron is a foundational work of Italian literature that influenced subsequent storytelling and literary realism.