Boccaccio's Florence: Politics and People in His Life and Work

Giovanni Boccaccio was a key figure in Italian literature and was deeply involved in the politics of Florence. His book, Florence, explores the financial, political, and social turbulence of Florence at this time and how it affected his writing. Elsa Filosa documents a microhistory of connections and interconnections and offers new, more political and historically imbedded readings of Boccaccios seminal works.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2022
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Giovanni Boccaccio, renowned as the author of the Decameron, holds a significant place in Italian literature. However, during the mid-fourteenth century, Boccaccio's involvement in the politics of Florence played a pivotal role in shaping and inspiring his literary endeavors. Boccaccio's Florence delves into the financial, political, and social turmoil that characterized Florence during that era, as well as the prominent figures in literary and political circles. By examining these elements, the book seeks to unravel the intricate ways in which they manifested in Boccaccio's writing. Through extensive archival research and a close analysis of Boccaccio's works, the book aims to recover the dynamics of the Florentine conspiracy of 1360 and its impact on his writing. It argues that when Boccaccio's works are read in the context of the reconstructed historical background, they reveal clear references to this significant event. In addition to providing a comprehensive portrait of Boccaccio in his time, Elsa Filosa offers fresh and politically charged interpretations of Boccaccio's seminal works. This book presents a microhistory of connections and interconnections, offering new insights into the literary and historical significance of Boccaccio's works.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 235 x 159 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487505806