The Decameron

The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio is a famous collection of novellas written in the 14th century, around 1350, during a time when Italy was struck by the Black Death. The book consists of 100 stories told by a group of ten young people—seven women and three men—who retreat to a villa in the countryside to escape the plague that is ravaging Florence.

Over the course of ten days, each member of the group tells a story, making for a total of 100 stories in all. The stories cover a wide range of themes including love, wit, intelligence, trickery, and morality. Some tales are humorous, others tragic, and many explore the complex relationships between men and women, often highlighting the social norms and conventions of the time. There’s a focus on the versatility of human nature—both the virtuous and the flawed.