The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio and translated by Wayne A. Rebhorn
Boccaccio claims to have written this book for women, and seven of the ten characters are young 14th century women who are accompanied by three young men. This is a novel of these ten youths who flee their city which is overrun with the Black Plague, and who take refuge in a country estate for two weeks. To pass the time, each of the ten tells a story on ten consecutive days (allowing weekends off for cleaning and rest). The result is this book of 100 stories set within the framework of their excursion. The stories show how much customs have changed and also how so many things remain the same.
Long recognized as a classic of Western Literature, The Decameron has suffered by difficult to read translations until now. Wayne Rebhorn has provided a translation into modern English that does not diminish the story or modernize it, while providing words that beg to be read aloud, as is fitting for stories that are told out loud in the book.
If you have ever wanted to read The Decameron now is the time to do it and this is the version to read.
