The Canon Library
Cover of The Decameron

Medieval / Renaissance · Story collection

The Decameron

by Giovanni Boccaccio. Ten young people escaping plague tell one hundred stories ranging from comic trickery to tragedy and moral reflection.

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Date
c. 1353
Origin
Italy
Era
Medieval / Renaissance
Genre
Story collection
Canon tier
Essential core
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
Very long
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

DesireFortuneSocial Life

Why it matters

Ten young people escaping plague tell one hundred stories ranging from comic trickery to tragedy and moral reflection.

This work is included on the basis of great books / bloom. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

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Reading paths featuring The Decameron

Continue through a deliberately ordered journey that places this work in conversation with others.

Reading path

Essential 100

A century of works that gives the broadest useful first view of the Western canon. 100 books · Advanced.