The Decameron
Or Ten Days' Entertainment Of Boccaccio.
With Introduction by Thomas Wright, M.A, F.S.A.
With Portrait After Raffaelle, and Ten Designs by T. Stothard.
London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly. Ca. 1874, No date printed.
CONDITION:
Overall, the condition is poor. The boards have bumped corners, significant edgewear, and moderate rubbing. They are held together by tape. The cloth is frayed, and the gilt lettering is faded. The spine is badly deteriorated and attached to the boards with tape. The hinges are broken. The text block and pages are good, though they show minor foxing and minor toning. The plates and illustrations are in place, and the gravures are all present. This is an excellent candidate for rebinding.
ATTRIBUTES:
Illustrated edition. Hardcover. Bound in cloth over boards. This is an antiquarian book that has had a long and illustrious journey through time. Please take a look at the pictures to ascertain the condition of this item.
DESCRIPTION:
Giovanni Boccaccio's "The Decameron" is a seminal work of classical Italian prose, a collection of 100 tales told over ten days by a group of seven young women and three young men who have fled Florence to a secluded villa to escape the Black Death. The stories, ranging from the erotic to the tragic to the comedic, explore themes of love, fortune, wit, and human ingenuity. Boccaccio, a contemporary and friend of Petrarch, was a key figure in the development of Renaissance humanism, and his work reflects a shift from medieval sensibilities towards a more secular, human-centered worldview.
The historical and literary significance of "The Decameron" is immense. It served as a model for subsequent European literature, influencing authors from Chaucer to Shakespeare, and its vibrant depiction of 14th-century Italian society offers invaluable insight into the period's cultural and social dynamics. Boccaccio's innovative use of a frame narrative and his masterful characterizations set new standards for storytelling. Collectors would find this work particularly interesting due to its foundational role in Western literature and its representation of a pivotal moment in intellectual history, marking a transition from religious dogma to a celebration of human experience and reason.
Page Count: 532
Location: LIB