h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Oxford edition is 686 pages not including the explanatory notes. The beginning has a nine page introduction. I wonder why mine is so much shorter.

I just read the first two stories of the first day. I was surprised how enjoyable it was.

The 900-plus figure includes the index and notes etc.

The separate 150-page introduction included a biography of Boccaccio, information on the politics of the time, a comparison with Dante's approach to social issues and all sorts of interesting but more or less irrelevant information.

There's also information on previous translations. The one I have that I found unreadable is described as 'grandiloquent' - a perfectly accurate label. It's pompous, verbose, somehow smug and impossible to tolerate. It's the sort of translation that puts people off the classics.

I should get into the new version this evening.

I'm glad your news version is so much better! Let me know how you like it once you get into it

Will do. If I manage to stay awake I'm hoping to get through the First Day tonight.

I made it through the first three stories and then I fell asleep. Still, that's only 97 to go...

It would be a good thing to read before bed. Right now I'm reading a bit of Odysseys before bed every night.

Did you enjoy the three stories?

Yes, they were good. Note the subtle way in which they undermine 'official' religion - not the genuine beliefs that may or may not be held by individuals, but the authority of the monolithic and unchallengeable Church. A bogus saint and an unsaintly monk and abbot - it's a good start.

I might not get further tonight, on account of an afternoon at the pub.

I agree. We just talked about that in class this afternoon. I thought it was great.
Here's a question for you though... When Ciappelletto went to the town and behaved nicely was it because he'd had a chance of heart and was being a good person? And when he made the false confession was he helping out the two inkeepers in a selfless/good way? My professor thinks so, but I disagree.

I might have to get back to you about Ciappelletto - in other words, I'd better re-read the story. I've been ploughing through the stories as fast as possible, carried away with it all.

Though I must admit to thinking (though I can't back this up with any facts or quotes right now) that Ciappelletto might have thought of the fake confession and all that piety as one last chance to sabotage society in some way. Hell, there are days when I feel like that... I doubt very much that there was a change of heart.

(But I reserve the right to change my mind once I've re-read it. )

I agree with you, if you don't change your mind
I'm sure it wasn't any goodness on his part. I don't really think people would change that quickly.... and I see no reason for him to have suddenly seen the light... Although it could just be that for some reason that isn't included in the story

Been speeding along have you? How far have you got? I've still only read the first two tales. Fortunately I don't have to have more read until Thursday. Not that I'm not enjoying them mind you, I just have a lot of other reading to do

I re-read it last night. I don't think C had any real change of heart as such. Though he might have felt like being nice to the innkeepers at the last, if he'd had a real change of heart he'd have made a genuine confession and not the hysterically funny hypocritical confession he did make. (I mean, this is a man who shattered every commandment and could be summed up as a bisexual drunkard - not someone who'd fit well into medieval society or see the need to do so.)

So there you go. I still think C made that final confession out of sheer devilment, taking one last chance to subvert society. Good on him, I say.

I've read through the third day now. There's some good stuff in there - some tales are more improbable than others, and some are more memorable, but they're all good.

I agree with you about Ciappelletto, I don't think he'd suddenly become good. Besides, I think the story is more fun that way.

I'm glad to hear you think it sounds good so far. Although it makes me sad I'm not reading all of it. We only have to read certain tales for the class. Perhaps if I can find the time I'll read all of them. So far they're interesting enough that I want to. Fingers crossed!

At the moment though I have to go read The Importance of Being Earnest.

You can always pick up the Decameron in between terms. Lots of short stories - you can read them in order, but it doesn't matter if there's a break here and there.

Earnest has his good points too.

I think that's what I'll do. I'm certainly enjoying it enough! Once this semester is done I'll have my summer vacation and I think I'll take some of that time off to read the stories I'm missing out on now.

I loved Earnest. It was a wonderful play. Had me laughing all the way through

I'm glad to hear it.

I came across a rather shocking story in the Decameron last night. Shocking to a modern audience, that is. Just when I was thinking that human nature is a constant, along came something that made me think otherwise... I suppose the trick is not to judge a 650-year-old story by modern standards.

I suppose that's a bit cryptic really. But you'll find it in time - you'll know it when you find it.

Goodness... Now I'm terribly curious!! I hope it's on my reading list. Can you tell me which story it is? I think even if it's not on my list of things that have to be read I'll read it anyway.
In fact I feel quite tempted to rush to the story and read it right now... If only I knew which one it was...

I wanna' know too! What about those of us who don't even know what book you two are talking about?

Arisz, I didn't take note of the number of the story at the time, but I think it's in the third day somewhere. The central event occurs in a bath-house. Basically, what shocked me is that... no, tell me if you want to know.

Mr X - Giovanni Boccaccio, 'The Decameron' -a collection of a hundred linked short stories set within the frame of a larger story - circa 1355.

Ivan, I would love to know
I'm only reading the first, eighth, and tenth tales of the third day. Even if its one of those I don't mind knowing in advance... I'd hate to miss out!

I've just started reading the eighth tale of the second day. It seems very odd to me. The nuns are described as being so annoying in the beginning! I can't understand why that guy wants to go be their gardener Perhaps it will make more sense as I get on with the story.

OK then. The story that bothers me is about, essentially, a rapist who lures a victim to the bath-house, has his way with her, then reveals his true identity... Not only does he get away with rape, but the story is written so that the victim agrees to repeat performances as well. This is seen as amusing by the 'audience'.

So you see, the modern viewpoint doesn't sit well with that.

The reason the gardener wants to work for the nuns will indeed become apparent. The modern viewpoint has a little trouble with this too, but it's well in line with medieval opinions about religious celibacy.