This morning I got my head around Judy’s Holiday Challenge and published my earlier post of today – the first of 10.
This put me in mind of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron which I read 60 years ago in my Folio Society fifth impression of 1960. The work has been translated by Richard Aldington.
Despite the exquisite, mostly erotic, aquatints of John Buckland-Wright, my recollection of the stories – 100 to be related in 10 days – does not stretch that far. I will therefore reproduce most of the last paragraph of the introduction.
‘The book was probably written between 1348 and 1353 (the oldest known manuscript of it was made in 1368), and Boccaccio was therefore about 40 when he finished it. He brought to it his whole experience of life, shot through for so many years by his desire for ‘Fiametta’, his shrewd but tolerant insight into the hearts and minds of men and women of all kinds, and a literary skill which had been developed by a lifetime of devoted practice. His hundred tales were gathered from many sources, French, Italian and Oriental. All of them were transmuted by his realism and sense of style, so that they were accepted at once as models of their kind. The manuscript was copied so often that in a few years it was known all over western Europe, to be translated and imitated again and again. It was printed for the first time, apparently in Florence, in 1469 or 1470. Since then innumerable writers have used its stories or acknowledged its influence – among them Lope de Vega in Spain, Moliere in France and Lessing in Germany. The first complete English translation did not appear until 1620, but long before that Chaucer had taken from Boccaccio the idea of a linked series of stories, and the realistic, humorous treatment of them, to make his Canterbury Tales, five of which are directly borrowed from The Decameron: the tales told by the Franklin, the Reeve, the Merchant, the Shipman and the Clerk. Shakespeare followed suit in All’s Well that Ends Well and Cymbeline, and after him came Fletcher, Marston, Tourneur, Otway, Dryden, Pope, Keats, Tennyson, Swinburne and many more…..’
This edition comes in a two volume set.
These, including the frontispiece portrait above, are the illustrations from ‘The First Five Days’.
Elizabeth joined us for dinner and convivial conversation. Jackie produced tender roast lamb, crisp Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and parsnips; firm Brussels sprouts, carrots and green beans, with meaty gravy, followed by apple pie and cream. My sister and I finished the Recital and my wife drank Hoegaarden.
The illustrations are amazing, Derrick, thanks for posting. Interesting reading. ???
Thanks very much, John
Very beautiful, and evocative illustrations indeed!
I haven’t had parship yet this year, and must rectify that soon – Jackie is right, that time of the year is upon us
…a happy thought š
Thanks you so much, Emma
I think I read parts of The Decameron decades ago, but not in a book with illustrations. These are wonderful–sort of teasing. Thank you for sharing.
You can’t beat dinner and convivial conversation!
Thanks very much, Merril š
Iām most envious of your wonderful collection of books, and your library, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Sheree
A fascinating piece of ancient literature Derrick…
Thanks very much, Ivor
Staggering illustrations. So beautiful
Thank you very much, Gary
Am I the only one who finds some of these illustrations disturbing? The second one in particular seems to depict a rape.
I can see that perspective. There are a couple that give me a creepy feeling. Some are interesting.
Understood
You are right about that picture, Sue. I thank you and am sorry for causing upset.
That is some stunning art preserved by you over the decades. I am not surprised the stories are still fresh in your mind. I am tempted to buy a volume of Boccaccio but I fear it will have none of those rejuvenating pictures.
Thank you very much, Uma. I tend not to post those I have already read, so it was good to have a reminder for this one.
I also have a two-volume edition of Decameron, but illustrations in mine are not nearly as exquisite as these. I truly enjoyed them, Derrick.
I’m pleased you liked them. Dolly. Thanks very much
The pleasure is mine, Derrick.
I really enjoy the nuns (?) peeping out of the window!
That is fun, Anne. Thanks very much
You have a fascinating library, Derrick and Jackie! š
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia
If you happen to chat with Quercus, I seem to be relegated to his SPAM filter or I am getting deleted now. š WP sometimes does that to me.
I’ll certainly let him know.
Thanks, Derrick!
That IS an old manuscript!
So glad Elizabeth joined you for dinner! Convivial conversation is my fav conversation. š
HUGS!!! š
PS…Oh, the nuns illustration…I was named after a nun.
Thanks very much, Carolyn š X
Very fascinating illustrations ?
Thanks very much, Ribana
That old…wow! You have a wonderful book collection Derrick.
Thank you very much, Arlene
As soon as I started reading your post, I seemed to remember lectures from my Chaucer class in college about the Decameron’s influence on The Canterbury Tales. As I read on, I learned that my dim memory was correct. I can remember what the classroom looked like in Battten Arts & Letters, the name of the professior (Dan Wilson), and what he looked like. I had no idea that image was still in my brain.
I’m pleased to have dredged it up, Liz – I hope š Thanks very much
Yes, Dr. Wilson’s Chaucer class is a very good memory. Learning how to read Middle English without having to look at the footnotes was a lot of fun.
I could read it once š
“Once” is the operative word for me, as well. š
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I read this last night, mesmerized, and didn’t have a chance to respond (ie, my comment didn’t go through!). I have a Master’s in English Literature, and yet I was never taught about this book and its history and resultant influence on literature. Loved this post and learned so much. The illustrations aren’t bad either. š
Thank you so much, Pamela. I suppose there are only so many books.
Well so MANY books but so few hours to read them all… š
Glad your sister is able to visit.
Thanks very much, Mrs W
The pictures look erotic for the mentioned time period or I am not aware of the then realities š
No. You are right, Rupali. Thanks very much.
What incredible illustrations.
Thanks very much, Leslie
Wonderful illustrations. “The Decameron” certainly influenced a lot of writers. Shrewd but sympathetic is my favorite kind of writer.
Yes, indeed, Laurie.
To be honest, I don’t recall all those breasts in the Decameron. Mybe my mind wass on higher things in those days.
I will check my spam filter for Lavinia’s comments. š
Thanks a lot, Quercus. I’m pleased you picked up Lavinia’s message.
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