The Heptameron (Penguin Classics)

Rating:
Summary: 70-odd stories fashioned after Boccaccio's Decameron
Review: Anyone interested in gender studies, especially wishing to understand the sexual relationships between spouses and lovers, the perceptions of what is acceptable, what is "masculine" or "feminine," would not only enjoy the reading, but gain some insight on Renaissance French culture. Along with the Decameron, Faerie Queene, Shakespeare's plays, and Orlando Furioso, this text is a necessary one for understanding the society at court during the Renaissance in Europe.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: I musts first state, write and say that I had no prior knowledge that this book in question, i.e., The Heptameron (Penguin Classics)by Marguerite De Navarre, P.A. Chilton(Translator), that it even existed. However, I must say that I have been very pleasantly surprised. The story surrounds a plethora of storytellers; whom one by one tell stories of adventure, heartache et al; and are very easy to relate to (even though they were written almost 500 years ago and by doing so shows the authors brilliance since most books are only read by the most current audience). The translation is very well done and therefore the book is indeed a pleasure to read (since my knowledge of French is nonexistent at this time).