The Decameron
by Giovanni Boccaccio
In the summer of 1348, when the plague devastated Florence, ten boys and girls hid in the countryside, where they were entertained with tales of love, death and corruption with the participation of many characters, from raging clergy and mad kings to insidious lovers and false miracle workers. Named after the Greek for "ten days," Boccaccio's short story book is based on ancient mythology, modern history, and everyday life, and has influenced the work of countless writers who have come after him.
