Biography of Giovanni Boccaccio


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Year of birth: born in 1313 1313 21 December 1375 Giovanni Boccaccio in Certaldo, probably in June. His birth place is uncertain: some sources say he was born in Florence, according to other (less reliable) even in Paris. His father is a wealthy and powerful from Chelino Boccaccino, merchant belonging to the circle of the Bardi of Florence, the mother is a woman of low social status. John was born out of wedlock. Six years after his birth his father marries officially with Margaret of Macey. As a child shows a strong inclination for literary studies farming on his own. It focuses very largely on Latin literature, learning to master the language. Also beginning to cultivate his veneration for Dante Alighieri, whose studio is started by Giovanni Mazzuoli. His father is not pleased with his literary inclinations, and sends it to Naples because you learn the craft of merchant facility Bards. The limited success of John in learning this craft, causes the father to attempt with Canon law. John is eighteen years old, and decides to follow directions paterne, can't even in this second attempt. The only redeeming factor of the stay in Naples is the attendance of the Court, to which access thanks to her father's credentials. Boccaccino indeed is an advisor and King Robert's Chamberlain. The courtiers who observes and among whom he lives end up becoming her incarnations of ideals. The father fails to make him forget the literary passion. Indeed, in the Neapolitan period writes: "Philostratus" (1336-1338), poem composed in octaves with the young protagonist Troilus hopelessly in love with Criselda; the prose novel "Filocolo" (1336-39) and the epic poem "Teseida delle nozze d'emilia (1339-1340). In 1340 back suddenly in Florence called by father following the financial difficulties of some banks of which is investor. The father dies during the plague of 1348, and John is free for the first time to devote himself to his studies with the help of a number of masters like Paolo da Perugia and Andalò del Negro. The change from Naples to Florence proves to be difficult, and, as he writes in "Elegia di Madonna Fiammetta", he doesn't find the environment pleasant and peaceful of Naples in a Florence that defines sad and boring. Becomes so fundamental figure of Fiammetta that will dominate his writings for a long time, the embodiment of a fairytale, daughter of King Robert of Anjou. The black death of 1348 is the starting point of her "The Decameron" (1348-1351). The protagonists are a group of ten young people during the plague take refuge in the Church of Santa Maria Novella, where, to make the time pass more joyfully will tell ten stories per day. Until 1559 text is forbidden, but with the introduction of printing is starting to be one of the most popular and widespread. In 1347-1348 period is Francesco Ordelaffi of Forlì the great guest. At the Court of Ordelaffi comes in contact with two poets, Nereo Morandi and Francis Miletto Dalton, with whom will live long in contact. Place in this time many public offices and representation for his city. The task that excites him most is the delivery of ten gold florins to the daughter of Dante Alighieri, become Meanwhile Sister Beatrice. Between 1354 and 1365 he went as Ambassador to Avignon at Pope innocent VI and urban V. Manages meanwhile to fill even a gap which carries since his youth: learn finally the Greek. In 1359 knows the Calabrian monk Leontius Pilatus who lives at his home from 1360 to 1362 with the task of translating the Iliad and the Odyssey; the translation was commissioned by Francesco Petrarca. Boccaccio personally knows the Petrarca thanks to a chance encounter in the countryside while they are traveling to Rome for the Jubilee of 1350. To prevent the monk goes away after the end of his work, Boccaccio the salaries and keeps him home despite their relationship is often stormy. At this time lives in Certaldo, where he writes native works in Latin as the "genealogy Deorum Gentilium" and the work in the vernacular "Corbaccio." This time frame is made more complicated by economic difficulties due to the problems of banks Bards. Attempts to resolve the difficulties with the Neapolitan Court of Anjou, but getting poor results. Is divided between the public offices in Florence and the commentary on the Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri, who is unable to complete due to some health problems. In 1370 also writes a code autograph of his "Decameron". His health significantly worsens, meanwhile: Giovanni Boccaccio Certaldo on 21 December 1375 died at his. His last wish is that which remains on his grave is inscribed with the phrase "Studium fuit alma poesis" (his passion was the noble poetry).

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