The Decameron
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The Decameron
Narrated by:
Simon Russell Beale, Gunnar Cauthery, Alison Pettitt, Daisy Badger, Carly Bawden, Lucy Briggs-Owen, full cast
Buy Now for $29.77
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Written by:
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Giovanni Boccaccio
The Decameron is one of the greatest literary works of the Middle Ages. Ten young people have fled the terrible effects of the Black Death in Florence and, in an idyllic setting, tell a series of brilliant stories, by turns humorous, bawdy, tragic and provocative. This celebration of physical and sexual vitality is Boccaccio's answer to the sublime other-worldliness of Dante's Divine Comedy.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2008 Oxford University Press (Translation) (P)2017 Naxos AudioBooks
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And the stories!!!!
So funny, sad, raunchy.... just great. Love this book. Very well acted out. I ffwd the singing, but that's just me lol. I'd rather they 'read' that part like a poem, but eh...
I love this book. Seriously recommend.
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The sharp divide between classes (beautiful princesses, handsome princes, oafish working classes) can be jarring. The glory of Christianity as opposed to other religions can also jar, although the Grand Poohbahs of Christianity, from the pope on down, get a good lambasting. Some of the morality is questionable too, with clever lovers lauded for outwitting their thick spouses. But, hey, it’s plague time — make hay while the sun shines.
Seven beautiful women and three handsome dudes from the upper classes manage to snag a couple of top-notch mansions outside of Florence, fully furnished with servants, food, wine, etc. Thousands of people are dying of the plague in Florence, but these twenty-somethings get to wine, dine and play music at their leisure against a pastoral background. And, oh yes, they each tell a story a day. That’s 100 stories over two weeks with time off on the weekend. It’s fun and the stories are not long. They are perfect listening for (say) a half-hour trip to work.
Short story paradise
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