Decameron. In 3 volumes (4 books)

"Decameron" Giovanni Bokkaccio is one of the most famous books in the history of world literature, over six centuries, causing unquenchable interest in the widest circle of readers.
Most of the hundred stories of this collection, interconnected by a framing narrative, are devoted to the topic of love in its various manifestations. The short stories have been told for ten days of 1348 in the company of ten well -educated and witty young people who had hidden on the villa in the suburbs of Florence, devastated with black death.
In 1891-1892, the full Russian translation of the Decameron, which was now recognized as classic, skillfully conveying the spirit and system of the Italian original, was published ("with minor bills") It was completed by the luminet of domestic science by Academician A.N. Veselovsky. Since then, the second edition of this translation (1896) has been repeatedly replicated.
Meanwhile, only a few bibliophiles could get acquainted with the "Basic version of this translation in those years, and until recently it was considered irretrievably lost. It was she who was reproduced in the first two volumes of this publication without any seizures, while the subsequent editing conducted by A.N. Veselovsky. Moreover, the notes revealed the places that he considered inconvenient for printing, in some cases limiting himself to their stopping, and more often - giving their arrangements.
In the two books of the third volume, an article and commentary on the "Decameron" of the famous researcher of classical Italian literature M.L. Andreeva, as well as an article by one of the largest Moscow bibliophiles L.V. Immortal, summing up his archival searches. This also includes the texts of the short story and the office in other Russian translations: K.N. Batyushkova, P.P. Muratova, L.I. Sokolova et al., Fragments of the works of A.N. Veselovsky, clarifying his understanding of Bokkaccio, the short story and era. All these materials are accompanied by a thorough comment.
Particular interest is the dramatic story of the appearance of the translation by A.N. Veselovsky, who marked the entry of the Russian Empire in the era of censorship messages and upcoming revolutionary upheavals. Separate attention is paid to the initiator of the translation - an outstanding Russian book publisher, enlightener and ascetic P.P. Konchalovsky (1839-1904)
An illustrative row is given to the present publication, in which the story of illustration of the “Decameron "is quite fully and representative: from the author’s manuscript with drawings of Bokkaccio itself, amazing illuminated manuscripts, picturesque and graphic creations of produced artists, inspired by the novels of the Decameron,, And to the famous Parisian edition of 1890, illustrated and designed by Jacques Vagre. The monumental work of this beautiful master was the basis of the design maket of the first two volumes with the text of Bokkaccio. The construction of the Decameron’s layout also took into account the tradition formed in the publishing practice of the XVI-XVIII centuries.
In addition to the illustrations directly related to the “Decameron "and the history of his Russian publication, the present publication includes many those that are dedicated to other works by Bokkaccio, to himself, his friends and memorable places. In total, illustrations in this publication are about six hundred.
The publication was prepared by M. L. Andreev, L.V. Immortals