Boccaccio's Fabliaux

Convincingly show[s] the revolutionary nature of the fabliau, a genre that burst onto the literary stage in the twelfth century to lead Western European readers from their long-standing bondage to moralizing, prescriptive texts to the freedom of scatological romps and subjective judgments, and from the tyranny of a deadening literalism to the liberty of ambiguity and polysemy.’—Renaissance Quarterly ‘Indicates possible new sources both for some of Boccaccio’s stories and for his frame narrative.’—Modern Language Review ‘Discusses the mutual influences of medieval short forms, bringing into view the web of forces at work between fabliaux, exempla, dits, lais, fables, and medieval adaptions of Eastern collections. . . . Brown’s open approach to fabliau sources and influences allows her to cast an inclusive and comprehensive eye on the field of medieval short forms.’—Medieval Review ‘A valuable and original contribution to questions concerning both the composition and interpretation of the Decameron.’—Medium Aevum ‘In this thoroughly researched and well-cited book, Katherine A. Brown explores extensively the literary evolution of the popular fabliau genre as an influential element in the short narrative form used in Boccaccio’s collection of novellas.’—Comitatus ‘Brown has certainly done an excellent job of studying the fabliaux in their manuscript context and building convincing lines of reception realized by this Italian Renaissance poet.’—Mediaevistik