Marguerite de Navarre's Heptaméron

Very few women were taught to read and write in the sixteenth century. As a young princess in France, Marguerite received a classical education owing to the influence of her widowed mother. Marguerite wrote in many forms throughout her life, but she is best known for a collection of tales inspired by Boccaccio’s Decameron, composed during her reign as Queen of Navarre. Because she died before completing the one hundred stories she had planned, the collection was published posthumously under the title L’Heptaméron.

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For the first meeting of this group, we will read and discuss Tales VIII (8), XXXII (32) and LXVII (67). Reading the Prologue (for context) and any other tales is optional but encouraged. Please bring a copy of the text with you to the discussion, either digital or print.