Giovanni Boccaccio
An Italian writer, poet, and humanist, a significant figure of the Renaissance. He is best known for his prose masterpiece, The Decameron, a collection of 100 novellas told by a group of young people escaping the Black Death. Boccaccio's work is celebrated for its realistic portrayal of human life, humor, and exploration of love, fate, and ingenuity, influencing subsequent European literature and establishing him as a foundational figure in the development of the modern short story.
During the Black Death, ten young people flee Florence and tell stories to pass the time in seclusion. Their 100 tales span comedy, tragedy, love, and morality, offering a window into medieval life and human nature. The Decameron is a foundational work of Western literature, blending realism and allegory with wit and insight, and inspiring countless writers from Chaucer to Shakespeare.