Netflix subscribers are already curious about The Decameron, a forthcoming comedy-drama set in 14th century Italy. will be unveiling the historic show, starring talent from , Sex Education and Derry Girls, in its entirety on Thursday, July 25. Situated during the time of the Black Death, the eight-part series focuses on the antics of a group of nobles and their servants who have retreated to a beautiful villa while the plague ravages Italy.
With anticipation building as the show's airing date nears, many are keen to understand more about the narrative's backdrop. While the widespread devastation caused by the Black Death across Italy in 1347 is historical fact, the specific narrative drawn out in The Decameron is not. Rather it takes loose inspiration from the eponymous book, an anthology of short stories broaching the subject of bubonic plague outbreak in Florence penned by Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio.
In the book, ten Florentine citizens escape the ravages of the Black Death to find solace in the countryside, where they beguile their days by recounting narratives. Each protagonist is bestowed with the title of king or queen for a day, during which they choose the day's storytelling theme, "whether it be doomed love affairs, trickery or acts of generosity". The original text focuses on the noble men and women but the Netflix show delves into a mix of both nobles and servants who tell their tales.
So while characters like Pampinea (played by Zosia Mamet) and Panfilo (Kara.