The Decameron: The Original English Translation by John Florio (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Plague-Era Florence, Renaissance Wit, and One Hundred Tales of Love, Satire, and FortuneBy Giovanni Boccaccio
Length38h 22m
About this audiobook
Set against the devastation of the 1348 Florentine plague, The Decameron gathers one hundred tales told over ten days by ten young refugees who withdraw to a country villa. Its architecture is at once elegant and audacious: a framed sequence of novelle moving between bawdy comedy, tragic love, clerical satire, mercantile cunning, and moral ambiguity. In John Florio's vigorous early modern English, Boccaccio's supple Italian prose acquires a richly idiomatic, Renaissance texture, preserving the work's wit, narrative momentum, and worldly intelligence. Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375), formed by the commercial culture of Naples and the humanist ferment of Florence, wrote with unusual sensitivity to social variety: merchants, monks, women, servants, nobles, and tricksters all speak with memorable vitality. His experience of urban life, classical learning, vernacular experimentation, and the catastrophe of plague helped shape a book that confronts mortality not with abstraction, but with storytelling, laughter, desire, and practical wisdom. This edition is recommended for readers interested in the foundations of European prose fiction, Renaissance translation, and the complex origins of modern narrative realism. It rewards both scholarly attention and simple delight, offering a humane, ironic, and inexhaustibly inventive portrait of society under pressure.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions.
- The Author Biography highlights personal milestones and literary influences that shape the entire body of writing.
- A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation.
- A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists.
- A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths.
- Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts.
- Lastly, our hand‐picked Memorable Quotes distill pivotal lines and turning points, serving as touchstones for the collection's central themes.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length38 hrs 22 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 10, 2013
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Decameron: The Original English Translation by John Florio (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Author Biography
4Historical Context
5Synopsis (Selection)
Mostrar todos os capítulosVer menos
6The Induction of the Author to the Following Discourses
7The First Day
8The First Day, the First Novell
9The First Day, the Second Novell
10The First Day, the Third Novell
11The First Day, the Fourth Novell
12The First Day, the Fift Novell
13The First Day, the Sixt Novell
14The First Day, the Seventh Novell
15The First Day, the Eight Novell
16The First Day, the Ninth Novell
17The First Day, the Tenth Novell
18The Second Day
19The Induction to the Second Day
20The Second Day, the First Novell
21The Second Day, the Second Novell
22The Second Day, the Third Novell
23The Second Day, the Fourth Novell
24The Second Day, the Fift Novell
25The Second Day, the Sixt Novell
26The Second Day, the Seventh Novell
27The Second Day, the Eight Novell
28The Second Day, the Ninth Novell
29The Second Day, the Tenth Novell
30The Third Day
31The Induction to the Third Day
32The Third Day, the First Novell
33The Third Day, the Second Novell
34The Third Day, the Third Novell
35The Third Day, the Fourth Novell
36The Third Day the Fifth Novell
37The Third Day the Sixth Novell
38The Third Day, the Seaventh Novell
39The Third Day, the Eight Novell
40The Third Day, the Ninth Novell
41The Third Day, the Tenth Novell
42The Fourth Day
43The Induction to the Fourth Day
44The Fourth Day, the First Novell
45The Fourth Day, the Second Novell
46The Fourth Day, the Third Novell
47The Fourth Day, the Fourth Novell
48The Fourth Day, the Fift Novell
49The Fourth Day, the Sixth Novell
50The Fourth Day, the Seventh Novell
El DecamerónGiovanni Boccaccio29h 23m$1.99 · $0.00
El DecamerónGiovanni Boccaccio29h 25m$1.99 · $0.00
El DecamerónGiovanni Boccaccio29h 20m$1.99 · $0.00
Das Dekameron (Kommentiert)Giovanni Boccaccio10h 30m4.1 (2.6K)$1 · $0.00
The Most Pleasant and Delectable Questions of Love (The Unabridged Original English Translation) (Annotated)Giovanni Boccaccio5h 11m$2 · $0.00
A Story of Ravenna (Unabridged) (Annotated)Giovanni Boccaccio2h 2m$2 · $0.00
The Earliest Lives of DanteGiovanni Boccaccio, Leonardo Bruni, Filippo Villani3h 9m3.9 (406)$1 · $0.00
The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10)Giovanni Boccaccio16h4.2 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
The Decameron: The Original English Translation by John FlorioGiovanni Boccaccio38h 32m$1 · $0.00
La FiammettaGiovanni Boccaccio1h 23m3.4 (468)$2 · $0.00
Traicté tresplaisant et recreatif de l'amour parfaicte de Guisgardus et SigismundeGiovanni Boccaccio1h 3m$1 · $0.00
The Decameron: Collector's Edition: 3 Different Translations by John Payne, John Florio & J.M. RiggGiovanni Boccaccio97h 3m4.5 (21)$1 · $0.00
The Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10)Giovanni Boccaccio14h 43m4.0 (29)$1 · $0.00
The Decameron of Giovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio23h 29m4.1 (41K)$1 · $0.00
THE DECAMERONGiovanni Boccaccio31h 31m4.1 (419.3K)$1 · $0.00
The Decameron: Collector's Edition: 3 Different Translations by John Payne, John Florio & J.M. RiggGiovanni Boccaccio97h 4m$1 · $0.00
The Decameron: The Popular Translation of J.M. RiggGiovanni Boccaccio29h 44m4.0 (9.1K)$2 · $0.00
THE DECAMERONGiovanni Boccaccio33h 2m4.1 (131.7K)$1 · $0.00
The DecameronGiovanni Boccaccio37h 10m4.1 (131.4K)$1.99 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
These Precious DaysAnn Patchett11h 14m4.5 (45.2K)$29 · $0.00
Henry V (The Play, Historical Background and Analysis of the Character in the Play)William Shakespeare, William Hazlitt8h 50m4.6 (1.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
H. P. LOVECRAFT Ultimate Collection: Novellas, Short Stories, Poetry & Essays (Annotated)H. P. Lovecraft12h 28m4.6 (2.3K)$2 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust16h 8m4.5 (10.6K)$1.99 · $0.00
Lessons in TruthH. Emilie3h 50m4.6 (1.4K)$4.70 · $0.00
TORAH - Bilingual Edition: English/Hebrew (Annotated)Max Margolis, JPS28h 26m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
Betty Crocker picture cooky bookBetty Crocker, Inc. General Mills2h 13m4.5 (6.5K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Tales of Beatrix PotterBeatrix Potter3h 36m4.5 (75K)$3 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
Crime and Punishment (The Unabridged Garnett Translation) (Annotated)Fyodor Dostoevsky24h 25m4.5 (15.4K)$1.99 · $0.00
The North American IndianEdward S. Curtis, Frederick Webb Hodge6h4.5 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Picture of Dorian Gray: The Uncensored 13 Chapter Version + The Revised 20 Chapter Version (Annotated)Oscar Wilde16h 12m4.5 (2.8K)$1.99 · $0.00
Grimoire Of The Everyday WitchIsadora Lys / Virginia Santos5h 35m4.5 (3.9K)$9 · $0.00
Winnie-the-PoohAlan Alexander Milne2h 52m4.5 (401.1K)$3 · $0.00
Sitting PrettyRebekah Taussig7h 33m4.5 (18.9K)$26 · $0.00
The Poetic Edda & The Prose EddaSnorri Sturluson, Saemund Sigfusson9h 34m4.5 (4K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Satires & Essays of Mark Twain (Annotated)Mark Twain23h 21m4.5 (1.1K)$2 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesLucy Maud Montgomery11h 10m4.4 (1.3M)$8 · $0.00
The Posthumous Memoirs Of Brás CubasMachado De Assis7h 39m4.4 (120.4K)$5 · $0.00
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.6 (4.6K)$29 · $0.00
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolver21h 3m4.5 (949.4K)$46 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
Remarkably Bright CreaturesShelby Van Pelt11h 17m4.4 (1.7M)$29 · $0.00
Cast in BloodMichelle Sagara16h 35m4.6 (607)$33 · $0.00
The Captain Blood Trilogy (Annotated)Rafael Sabatini29h 20m4.6 (1K)$3 · $0.00
Ship of the Line (Annotated)Cecil Louis Troughton Smith11h 13m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The George Orwell CollectionGeorge Orwell24h 46m4.5 (14.4K)$12 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust15h 38m4.5 (9.2K)$2 · $0.00
Driving ForceElle James4h 58m4.6 (407)$20 · $0.00
When God Calls the HeartBrian Bird, Michelle Cox3h 24m4.6 (439)$10 · $0.00
Five Little IndiansMichelle Good10h 34m4.5 (64.5K)$29 · $0.00
Lolth's WarriorR. A. Salvatore13h 20m4.6 (2.4K)$33 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m4.5 (359.1K)$33 · $0.00
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du BoisHonoree Fanonne Jeffers29h 49m4.5 (58K)$8 · $0.00
Going PostalTerry Pratchett11h 23m4.5 (189.9K)$29 · $0.00
Glen AffricKarine Giebel22h 51m4.5 (3.2K)$46 · $0.00
The Book Of NegroesLawrence Hill15h 45m4.5 (107.3K)$33 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
Lieutenant Hornblower (Annotated)C. S. Forester11h 41m4.5 (2.9K)$2 · $0.00
You may also like
Moll FlandersDaniel Defoe11h 38m3.7 (59.9K)$23
The DecameronGiovanni Boccaccio30h 30m4.1 (58.8K)$4 · $0.00
The Decameron of Giovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio29h 42m4.0 (44.9K)Free
The DecameronGiovanni Boccaccio29h 59m4.0 (59.2K)$39
The Old Curiosity Shop (Annotated)Charles Dickens25h 40m3.6 (24.5K)$2 · $0.00
The Awakening (The Resurrection)Leo graf Tolstoy12h 18m4.4 (63.5K)$2 · $0.00
The Decameron of Giovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio23h 29m4.1 (41K)$1 · $0.00
EntitledAndrew Lownie11h 41m3.6 (17.6K)$25
Roxana: The Fortunate MistressDaniel Defoe15h 45m3.7 (14.3K)$1.20 · $0.00
PolikushkaLeo Tolstoy43m3.5 (1.5K)$2.30
Dead SoulsNikolai Vasilevich Gogol13h 2m4.0 (115.2K)Free
What Maisie KnewHenry James8h 46m3.8 (28.3K)$16 · $0.00
Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens33h 5m3.9 (24.3K)$2 · $0.00
The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnMark Twain11h 11m4.0 (1.4M)$2.30
CandideVoltaire3h 33m4.0 (357.6K)Free
Lady SusanJane Austen2h 24m3.8 (75.1K)$21 · $0.00
Blue AngelFrancine Prose11h 47m3.6 (5.7K)$29 · $0.00
Boule de SuifGuy de Maupassant1h 44m4.0 (16.3K)$1 · $0.00
Point Counter Point (Annotated)Aldous Huxley21h 34m3.9 (13K)$2 · $0.00
Amelia — CompleteHenry Fielding22h 38m3.6 (1.5K)$2.30 · $0.00