The Decameron

During the summer of 1348 eight young Florentines seek safety in the countryside as the Black Death decimates their city. For the ten days they are required to stay there they occupy themselves by each recounting a story daily—a hundred tales of love adventure and unforeseen twists of fate. The stories range from the bawdy Petronella hiding her lover in a tub to Ser Cepperello who despite his wicked effrontery becomes a Saint. Instead of being worried about abstract ideas of morality or religion they are more concerned with earthly values. The end result is a masterwork of inventive storytelling and a colossal monument to European literature.