Boccaccio: A Life Unveiled Through Literary Self-Portraits

This biography reconstructs the life of Giovanni Boccaccio by meticulously examining the autobiographical elements woven throughout his literary works. The author delves into the interplay between Boccaccio's writings and his personal experiences, revealing a complex personality marked by sensitivity, irritability, and a yearning for recognition coupled with profound insecurity. While the biography sometimes relies too heavily on Boccaccio's self-portraits, potentially compromising its rigor, it nonetheless offers valuable insights into the life and times of this influential Renaissance author.