# The Decameron — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio.

- [Proem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/proem.md): The author explains his purpose in writing the Decameron: to provide solace and entertainment for lovesick ladies who, unlike men, have few diversions from their melancholy. He recounts how his own past love, though pain
- [The Decameron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-decameron.md): The Decameron is a collection of 100 tales told by a group of seven young women and three young men who flee plague-ridden Florence to a countryside villa, where they entertain each other with stories over ten days, expl
- [Day the First](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-first.md): The first day of storytelling begins with the company's retreat to the countryside to escape the plague in Florence. They establish rules for storytelling and share tales that explore themes of wit, cunning, and moral hy
- [Day the First Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-first-introduction.md): The author introduces the devastating plague of 1348 in Florence, describing its symptoms and social breakdown. Seven young noblewomen (Pampinea, Fiammetta, Filomena, Emilia, Lauretta, Neifile, Elisa) meet in Santa Maria
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md): Master Ciappelletto, a notoriously wicked man, dupes a holy friar with a false confession on his deathbed, and after his death is mistakenly revered as a saint, illustrating how God may honor the purity of a suppliant's 

> 120 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_decameron_se_1341kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Second](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-second.md)
- [Day the Second Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-second-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Third](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-third.md)
- [Day the Third Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-third-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Fourth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-fourth.md)
- [Day the Fourth Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-fourth-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Fifth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-fifth.md)
- [Day the Fifth Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-fifth-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Sixth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-sixth.md)
- [Day the Sixth Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-sixth-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Seventh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-seventh.md)
- [Day the Seventh Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-seventh-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Eighth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-eighth.md)
- [Day the Eighth Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-eighth-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Ninth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-ninth.md)
- [Day the Ninth Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-ninth-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Day the Tenth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-tenth.md)
- [Day the Tenth Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/day-the-tenth-introduction.md)
- [The First Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-first-story.md)
- [The Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-second-story.md)
- [The Third Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-third-story.md)
- [The Fourth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fourth-story.md)
- [The Fifth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-fifth-story.md)
- [The Sixth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-sixth-story.md)
- [The Seventh Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-seventh-story.md)
- [The Eighth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-eighth-story.md)
- [The Ninth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-ninth-story.md)
- [The Tenth Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/the-tenth-story.md)
- [Conclusion of the Author](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/conclusion-of-the-author.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/endnotes.md)
- [Glossary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/glossary.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters