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The Decameron (Penguin Classics) Paperback – April 29, 2003

by Giovanni Boccaccio (Author), G. H. McWilliam (Editor, Translator, Introduction)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 726 ratings
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“The Decameron reads in some ways as a guide to social distancing and self-isolation.” —The New York Times

“The 14th-century Italian book that shows us how to survive coronavirus.” —New Statesman

A complete edition of the hilarious, bawdy, irreverent masterpiece of medieval Italy—and the inspiration for the film The Little Hours—in an acclaimed translation

In the summer of 1348, as the Black Death ravages their city, ten young Florentines take refuge in the countryside. They amuse themselves by each telling a story a day for the ten days they are destined to remain there—a hundred stories of love, adventure and surprising twists of fate. Less preoccupied with abstract concepts of morality or religion than with earthly values, the tales range from the bawdy Peronella hiding her lover in a tub to Ser Cepperello, who, despite his unholy effrontery, becomes a Saint. The result is a towering monument of European literature and a masterpiece of imaginative narrative.

This is the second edition of G. H. McWilliam’s acclaimed translation of The Decameron. His introduction illuminates the worlds of Boccaccio and of his storytellers, showing Boccaccio as a master of vivid and exciting prose fiction. 
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    1072 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    April 29, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    7.76 x 5.08 x 2.49 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0140449302
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140449303
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“McWilliam’s finest work, [his] translation of Boccaccio’s Decameron remains one of the most successful and lauded books in the series.” —The Times (London)

“The Decameron, by Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375), made a great impression on me. . . . Ten youths—seven women and three men—take turns telling stories for 10 days. At around the age of 16, I found it reassuring that Boccaccio, in conceiving his narrators, had made most of them women. Here was a great writer, the father of the modern story, presenting seven great female narrators. There was something to hope for. . . . The seven female narrators of the Decameron should never again need to rely on the great Giovanni Boccaccio to express themselves. . . . The female story, told with increasing skill, increasingly widespread and unapologetic, is what must now assume power.” —Elena Ferrante, The New York Times

From the Back Cover

In the early summer of the year 1348, as a terrible plague ravages the city, ten charming young Florentines take refuge in country villas to tell each other stories - a hundred stories of love, adventure and surprising twists of fortune which later inspired Chaucer, Keats and Shakespeare. While Dante is a stern moralist, Boccaccio has little time for chastity, pokes fun at crafty, hypocritical clerics and celebrates the power of passion to overcome obstacles and social divisions. Like the Divine Comedy, the Decameron is a towering monument of medieval pre-Renaissance literature, and incorporates certain important elements that are not at once apparent to today's readers. In a new introduction to this revised edition, which also includes additional explanatory notes, maps, bibliography and indexes, Professor McWilliam shows us Boccaccio for what he is - one of the world's greatest masters of vivid and exciting prose fiction.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; 2nd edition (April 29, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1072 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140449302
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140449303
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.58 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.76 x 5.08 x 2.49 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 726 ratings

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Giovanni Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
726 global ratings
New but bent
3 Stars
New but bent
The book seems unread and new, however, it has some crease-marks and a somewhat bent cover. It also has some strange oily-looking stains on the first few pages.
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Top reviews from the United States

Missoula woodworker
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly documented, and an interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2023
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If you buy this for deep research into thirteenth century authors, you'll find useful information here, but you can read the original author's words just for the pleasure of it.
2 people found this helpful
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Rachel
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Avid Readers
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2004
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This book is simply put, spectacular. For people who love to read and are literature fanatics, this edition is perfect. This edition is kept in a highly eloquent style with extensive explanatory footnotes. Boccaccio's humor carries through time beautifully. Even now, his sarcasm and dry (often biting) humor is not lost. I also found it humorous to see that people have changed very little over the centuries. It is a bit daunting upon first receiving it, but realize that it is a collection of short stories and thus can be put down for a "break" and easily picked back up again. I highly recommend this for people who strive to enhance their "repertoire" of classic literature. Boccaccio was a genius.
40 people found this helpful
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Diane Hinckley
4.0 out of 5 stars Medieval Mischief
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023
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Wow, is this book racy! Sometimes it's hilariously racy, but it's a long book that took me a long time to read. I'm one of those people who slavishly plods through an Introduction, and this one was so long, I saw Roman numerals I've never seen before -- and it was full of spoilers! One of my favorite stories in the book is the one where the guy's buddies convince him he's pregnant, and the way he blames his wife for the situation. Something interesting about that story is that, for all the hanky-panky in the book, this story featured the first unwanted pregnancy (or any pregnancy that I can recall, which makes you think), and it is so easily "resolved" with a fake abortifacient. One gets the impression that there was no controversy about that sort of thing.
4 people found this helpful
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Win
3.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
This reads like a succession of adult-themed fairy tales as most of them involve sex but not in the least graphic. The 100 stories, 10 told over 10 days in a countryside villa by 10 aristocratic ladies and gentlemen to amuse themselves, are quick reads. This is not a literary masterpiece by any means but it is fun. You can read a story or two, put it down for awhile, and lose nothing.
4 people found this helpful
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K.G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Quality!
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2013
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I received my book and it was used, but it looks as if it has never been used. It is in great quality and it is perfect for college because it has no writing in it and i can use it for my own notes. I am impresssed with how qùickly the book was delivered to my house. I will defintely buy from this company again. For all college students definitely shop on Amazon for your textbooks, your college bookstore is nothing compared to Amazon.
One person found this helpful
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little e
5.0 out of 5 stars good translation), highly enjoyable (this ain't no boring classic ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
I'll admit - I have not yet finished The Decameron, however I've read enough to say that it is highly readable (i.e., good translation), highly enjoyable (this ain't no boring classic filled with highfalutin prudery), and, because it is 100 stories, it can read a bit at a time over long periods of time because the stories are not connected in any way (ala the original Star Trek frex). Buy it, read it, share it - it's a classic after all.
25 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars New!
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2021
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The tracking was difficult to follow, but the book is brand new and arrived sooner than expected. Thank you!!
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Anna Marie Meyer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great During Virus Lockdown! Superb Gift!
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2021
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Reading during COVID & the History is Amazing!
My brother is an author, writer, teacher & he recommended this. Great daily story reading!
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

PHILIPPE GRUNSTEIN
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Classic. Great translation. Essential medication for our troubled times.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
Outstanding introduction, notes, and translation (McWilliam’s) of the work of a genius: Boccaccio.
The foreword by Boccaccio is impressive as well.
All the stories can be read separately. This book is such a good companion.
It brings entertainment and joy to the reader.
A masterpiece for every reader. A rare book.
The Penguin edition is just wonderful.
Much better than the dated and contrived Dante’s Divine Comedy and L’Arioste’s Orlando Furioso.
The Decameron is an enchantment. This edition is faultless to me.
2 people found this helpful
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Joey
5.0 out of 5 stars Great piece of literature.
Reviewed in Germany on April 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I absolutely loved this book. I purchased this book at the height of Corona and loved reading every one of the 100 stories. I finished reading the book in the Santa Maria Novella church in Florence, where the opening scene of the book takes place. The quirky stories and amusing anecdotes left me wanting to read story after story. Although a completely different style than The Divine Comedy from Dante, I see why Boccaccio is often mentioned in the same breath.
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terabyte
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent quality
Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2021
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Intriguing read into Florence during the Black Death. The translation was both sophisticated and engaging.
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Mike DAmbra
1.0 out of 5 stars Print too small
Reviewed in Italy on July 13, 2022
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The normal font requires the book to be 1,000 pages. This version is 300 pages. The print is too small to read.
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MHAT
5.0 out of 5 stars It will help you
Reviewed in Japan on April 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
Loved it from 60 years ago.
I should recommend it.
Not book of sorrow as, Pest which is for times of bounty but Decameron to overcome Covid 19.The physiological visdom since Middle Ages.
One person found this helpful
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