In Defense of Women with Margaret L. King

The Decameron is a collection of novellas written by Giovanni Boccaccio, composed between 1349 and 1353. The book is structured as a frame story where ten young people (seven women and three men) escape the Black Death in Florence by retreating to a villa in the countryside. Over ten days, each member of the group tells a story, resulting in a total of 100 tales. The stories cover a wide range of themes, including love, fortune, wit, and deception. Boccaccio's work is notable for its humanistic perspective, emphasizing intelligence and wit over dogma, and it provides a vivid portrayal of contemporary urban society during the time of the plague. The Decameron has had a profound influence on Renaissance literature and continues to be a significant work in Italian literature.

Written between 1513 and 1518 and published in 1528, 'The Book of the Courtier' is a treatise presented as a series of conversations over four evenings in 1507 at the court of Urbino. The dialogue explores the ideal qualities of a courtier, including noble rank, physical prowess, modesty, and a pleasant physique. It also discusses the nature of humor, the best form of Italian to speak and write, and the relationship between the courtier and his prince. The book is a nostalgic evocation of the High Renaissance courts and offers insights into the ethics and behaviors expected of courtiers and court ladies during that period.