Description
An easy Italian reader by Michela Guida
Iniziato nel 1348 all’indomani della peste, il Decameron è una raccolta di cento novelle, scritte con un linguaggio che fa del Boccaccio il vero iniziatore della prosa narrativa italiana. Le novelle sono di diversa lunghezza, narrano avventure straordinarie ma anche fatti quotidiani…
… and some of them made me laugh out loud! Picture an Italian ‘The Canterbury Tales’ and you’ll have a good idea what to expect. Our Italian-teacher writer has selected just eight of the tales for us, and rewritten them in modern Italian. Thirty pages of text and approximately forty minutes of online audio, which together offer an entertaining insight into fourteenth century Florence, and the origins of Italian literature.
- .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
- .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
- 8 chapters to read and listen to
- Comprehension questions to check your understanding
- Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
- Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
- Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)
How do I access my ebook?
When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after your payment), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook, where available, cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them. There’s a space to do that on the order form – where it says Additional information, Order notes (optional). If you forget, or if you have problems downloading the .pdf, don’t worry! Email us at the address on the website and we’ll help. Also, why not check out our FAQ?
Riccardo (verified owner) –
These entertaining stories from the fourteenth century are retold with a style and vocabulary that reflect the era just right for B1-B2 level. The author also begins the book with an informative overview of the these revised classic tales. Enjoy and learn!
Johan Jansen van Rosendaal (verified owner) –
Il Decameron nel italiano del tempo di Boccaccio è molte lungo e troppo difficile per me. Perciò questo libro è un buona introduzione a la vita nel medioevo. Michela ha scelto alcuni racconti che ripresentano i varii aspetti dell’ opera. Mi è piaciuto!
Anita (verified owner) –
I have listened to this a couple of times now and pick up something new each time. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but have been pleasantly surprised. This collection of tales has been really interesting and at times amusing. The level B1/2 seems to be the right level for me – challenging in parts with a lot of new vocabulary. As usual, the pronunciation is very clear and easy to follow.
This book is well worth reading and I can recommend it – good value.
Nicky (verified owner) –
A well-chosen mixture of tales, and having both the written and audio versions is a decided plus. My only (slight) criticism is of some of the exercises, e.g., synonyms and antonyms, as not being sufficiently “meaty.” On the other hand, the exercise on the prepositions is extremely helpful. Great value for the money!
Helen Heap (verified owner) –
What a surprise and a delight this has been! The tales selected were interesting and true to life (well chosen Michela !) and I have looked forward to reading and listening to each one.
Pamela (verified owner) –
Nice balance in the text between challenging and straightforward.
The stories are interesting and sometimes quite funny. A glimpse into Florentine life in the 14th centuary
Well worth the very reasonable price.
Lynne F (verified owner) –
An interesting collection of short tales. The level seems right although a little challenging because fourteenth-century Florence is not an everyday topic for somebody learning Italian. This is where the glossary proved to be very helpful.
On second reading I listened to the audio. It was very clear and helpful with pronunciation.
I would certainly recommend reading this book and say don’t be put off by any preconceived ideas. it may be about dark times but has some lighthearted moments.