Medieval LOLs: Boccaccio's 'Decameron', Part One
<p>In the preface to the&nbsp;<em>Decameron&nbsp;</em>Boccaccio describes Florentine society laid waste by bubonic plague in the mid-14th century. But before he gets to that he has a confession for the reader: he has been hurt by love, a love ‘more fervent than any other love’, and intends his work as a guide to life and love for young women in particular. In the first of two episodes on Boccaccio’s hundred&nbsp;<em>novelle</em>&nbsp;of sex, dishonesty and foolishness, Mary and Irina consider why both the preface and first story – about the disreputable merchant Cepparello – start with a confession, before looking at the later tale of the gardener Masetto and his noble efforts tending to the needs of every nun in a convent in Lamporecchio.</p><p>Subscribe to <em>Close Readings</em>:</p><p>Directly in Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://lrb.me/medlolapplesignup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lrb.me/medlolapplesignup</a></p><p>In other podcast apps: <a href="https://lrb.me/medlolscsignup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lrb.me/medlolscsignup</a></p><p>Read more on Boccaccio the <em>LRB</em>: <a href="https://lrb.me/decameronpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lrb.me/decameronpod</a></p><p>Get in touch: [email protected]</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
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Show Notes
In the preface to the Decameron Boccaccio describes Florentine society laid waste by bubonic plague in the mid-14th century. But before he gets to that he has a confession for the reader: he has been hurt by love, a love ‘more fervent than any other love’, and intends his work as a guide to life and love for young women in particular. In the first of two episodes on Boccaccio’s hundred novelle of sex, dishonesty and foolishness, Mary and Irina consider why both the preface and first story – about the disreputable merchant Cepparello – start with a confession, before looking at the later tale of the gardener Masetto and his noble efforts tending to the needs of every nun in a convent in Lamporecchio.
Subscribe to Close Readings:
Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://lrb.me/medlolapplesignup
In other podcast apps: https://lrb.me/medlolscsignup
Read more on Boccaccio the LRB: https://lrb.me/decameronpod
Get in touch: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.