Netflix has a new series on the radar and it is called ‘The Decameron’. The dark comedy gem premiered on 25 July 2024. ‘The Decameron’ is based on the 14th-century Italian short-story collection by Giovanni Boccaccio of the same name, brought to life on screen by Kathleen Jordan.
Although many viewers are enjoying the dark comedy spin by Jordan on medieval literature, this book was originally banned by the church. ‘The Decameron’ is considered one of the greatest Italian literary works even now. So why did the Catholic Church burn and ban the book?
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The Catholic Church Vs ‘The Decameron’
Like many literary works of the 14th century, Giovanni Boccaccio’s masterpiece also faced the wrath of the Catholic Church. Despite the book’s popularity among the masses, the church not only banned it but also burned the book.
‘The Decameron’ overtly anti-clerical stances frequently brought the work into conflict with the Catholic Church. History says that the book was burned in Dominican Friar Girolamo Savonarola’s bonfire of ‘sinful’ art and literature. The bonfire titled ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’ took place in the center of Florence.
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The True Story Behind The Netflix Series
Boccaccio’s work is a collection of 100 tales told by a group of seven young women and three young men. The group takes shelter in a secluded villa just outside Florence in order to escape the Black Death. The Netflix series borrows the idea behind this.
Kathleen Jordan added her own twists and turns to the story and turned it into a black comedy. However, the story remains similar to the book. The storyline is based in 1348 when the Black Death was ravaging Florence. A group of nobles retreated to the countryside Villa Santa to stay safe. As they tried to wait out the plague in the hills of Tuscany with wine and sex, the group eventually had to fight for their survival.
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