Giovanni Boccaccio
1313 – 1375 Italian writer, poet
The author of the Decameron, a founder of Italian prose.
- Religion
- Catholic, though the Decameron is worldly and satirical toward clergy.
- Affiliations
- Humanist scholar of Florence. No secret society.
Boccaccio wrote the Decameron, a hundred tales told by young people fleeing the Black Death, rich with wit and humanity. It shaped the European short story and influenced Chaucer and later writers. With Petrarch he helped launch Renaissance humanism.
Connections
- influenced Geoffrey Chaucer — Chaucer borrowed stories and structure from Boccaccio.
- ally of Petrarch — The two humanists were close friends and correspondents.