Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron is a masterpiece of world literature that inspired Chaucer, Shakespeare, Poe, and countless writers of popular fiction for more than 650 years since its original publication around the year 1350. Taking place in the plague year of 1348 in Florence, Italy, The Decameron follows ten wealthy young people who abandon the city for a luxurious country retreat. Once there, they attempt to banish their sorrows by communing with nature, singing, dancing, and telling stories; in all, one hundred stories are told.

Summary

Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysis of The Decameron.

Characters

Read descriptions of the storytellers and the key story protagonists in The Decameron.

Literary Devices

Here's where you'll find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in The Decameron.

Quotes

Here's where you'll find important quotes from The Decameron and explanations of them.

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