The Decameron [Paperback]

The year is 1348. The Black Death has begun to ravage Europe. Ten young Florentinesseven women and three menescape the plague-infested city and retreat to the countryside around Fiesole. At their leisure in this isolated and bucolic setting, they spend ten days telling each other storiestales of romance, tragedy, comedy, and farceone hundred in all. The result, called by one critic the greatest short story collection of all time (Leonard Barkan, Princeton University) is a rich and entertaining celebration of the medley of medieval life.Wayne A. Rebhorn deserves our gratitude for an eminently persuasive translation of Boccaccios collection of tales&I celebrate his accomplishment.A lively, readable translation of the greatest short story collection of all time. The laugh-out-loud quality of Boccaccios delicious vernacular is admirably preserved.This superb, powerful, beautifully crafted, and indeed definitive translation ofSer Cepparello, Andreuccio, and Calandrino have never come across so well in EnglishWayne Rebhorns vibrant new translation makes Boccaccios scoundrels and victims alike come back to life.Fluent and elegant . . . the achievement genuinely honours its original.A thoughtful piece of work& . This is the version [ofRebhorn deserves our gratitude for an eminently persuasivetranslation. . . . I celebrate his accomplishment.Edith Grossman