What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Decameron
Giovanni Boccaccio · Book · 2020
If you loved The Decameron, start with The Rules of the Game (Jean Renoir, 1939) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Decameron across media.
What hooked you in The Decameron was the way people retreat into storytelling to navigate the absurdity of a collapsing world.
Films on the same thread
The Rules of the Game
Jean Renoir · Film · 1939
Shares a thread with The Decameron: Social Commentary.
Like The Decameron, this film uses an ensemble gathering to expose the biting social commentary and human folly hidden beneath the polite veneer of a crumbling aristocracy.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1972
Explores: Power, Family Loyalty, Corruption.
You will recognize the intricate power dynamics and focus on family legacy found in The Decameron, mirrored here through the lens of a sprawling Italian crime dynasty.
Dawn of the Dead
George A. Romero · Film · 1978
Shares a thread with The Decameron: Social Commentary.
This film echoes the survivalist spirit of The Decameron, placing a group of disparate individuals in forced isolation where they must confront societal decay and their own humanity.
La Dolce Vita
Film · 1960
Explores: Decadence, Alienation, Celebrity Culture.
Similar to the episodic wit of The Decameron, this journey through Rome captures the decadence and spiritual emptiness of an elite society struggling to find meaningful connections.
Series on the same thread
The Great
Tony McNamara · Series · 2020
Explores: Political Intrigue, Gender Politics, Royal Court.
The Decameron relies on sharp wit to critique the powerful, a tradition this show continues by skewering the royal court through a lens of political intrigue and satire.
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Series · 2014
Explores: organized crime, power struggles, betrayal.
This gritty drama captures the same intense focus on social hierarchy and betrayal that permeates The Decameron, grounding its narrative in the brutal realities of organized crime.
Friends
Marta Kauffman · Series · 1994
Explores: Friendship, Relationships, Coming of Age.
Just as the characters in The Decameron find solace in one another during a crisis, this series highlights the comfort and companionship found among friends navigating modern pressures.
Bridgerton
Chris Van Dusen · Series · 2020
Explores: Forbidden Love, Social Class, Family Secrets.
Much like the tales of romance and social maneuvering in The Decameron, this series explores the marriage market and family secrets within a highly stratified, performative social world.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Deca Tapes
Lex Noteboom · Podcast · 2025
This podcast mirrors the structural framework of The Decameron by trapping ten individuals in a shared space, forcing them to reveal their truths through the medium of audio.
Desinteligencia Artificial
Podcast
Explores: Modern Society, Technology, Future.
This podcast shares the intellectual DNA of The Decameron by offering a sharp, decadent critique of modern society, using philosophical observation to dissect the folly of our times.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Decameron considered a guide to social distancing?
The New York Times notes that The Decameron reads in some ways as a guide to social distancing and self-isolation. Written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, the collection of novellas provides a historical perspective on navigating periods of isolation.
What is the historical significance of The Decameron?
The Decameron is a masterpiece of classical early Italian prose. As a 14th-century work by Giovanni Boccaccio, it is recognized as a significant piece of literature that offers insights into human survival during times of crisis, as highlighted by contemporary reviews in the New Statesman.
Who is the author of The Decameron?
The Decameron was written by the 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio. The book is a collection of novellas that serves as a masterpiece of classical early Italian prose and has been cited for its relevance to themes of self-isolation and survival.
How does The Decameron relate to surviving a pandemic?
The New Statesman describes The Decameron as a 14th-century Italian book that shows us how to survive coronavirus. Its collection of novellas offers readers a historical framework for understanding the challenges and social dynamics associated with periods of self-isolation.