Murray’s Reviews > The Decameron > Status Update
Murray
is 23% done
Day 2, Story 8
Sex, Lies, Redemption & Restoration ❤️
Giannetta no sooner entered the room than the young man's pulse began pounding and only returned to normal after she left. As a result, the doctor felt absolutely certain about his diagnosis: "Your son's health doesn't depend on the remedies of physicians, but lies in Giannetta's hands. The young man is burning with love for her!”
— May 30, 2026 08:43AM
Sex, Lies, Redemption & Restoration ❤️
Giannetta no sooner entered the room than the young man's pulse began pounding and only returned to normal after she left. As a result, the doctor felt absolutely certain about his diagnosis: "Your son's health doesn't depend on the remedies of physicians, but lies in Giannetta's hands. The young man is burning with love for her!”
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Murray’s Previous Updates
Murray
is 22% done
DAY 2, STORY 7
BELLADONNA 🖤💀
Belladonna, deadly nightshade, is a highly toxic plant.
A blood-soaked satire on romantic love where a succession of men murder one another in order to make the Sultan’s stunning daughter their own.
“She had slept with eight men perhaps ten thousand times, yet she came to her wedding bed as if she were a virgin, and made her man believe she really was one.”
— May 18, 2026 11:45AM
BELLADONNA 🖤💀
Belladonna, deadly nightshade, is a highly toxic plant.
A blood-soaked satire on romantic love where a succession of men murder one another in order to make the Sultan’s stunning daughter their own.
“She had slept with eight men perhaps ten thousand times, yet she came to her wedding bed as if she were a virgin, and made her man believe she really was one.”
Murray
is 19% done
Day 2, Story 6
A prince is imprisoned, his family flees to an island where pirates 🏴☠️ anchor and capture all but the wife. Her children are taken. Half mad with grief she continues to survive on the island, eating grass like the doe she spots. Going into a cave she finds two beautiful fawns who she nurtures with her own milk. Soon she lives in a state as wild as that of the doe and fawns. Until …
— Apr 28, 2026 10:27AM
A prince is imprisoned, his family flees to an island where pirates 🏴☠️ anchor and capture all but the wife. Her children are taken. Half mad with grief she continues to survive on the island, eating grass like the doe she spots. Going into a cave she finds two beautiful fawns who she nurtures with her own milk. Soon she lives in a state as wild as that of the doe and fawns. Until …
Murray
is 18% done
Day 2, Story 5
Seduced, Swindled & Trapped in a Tomb
“What are you afraid of? Do you think he's going to eat you? The dead don't eat people. I'll go inside there myself." Having said this, a priest was ready to enter the tomb. Andreuccio stood up and grabbed the priest by one of his legs, pulling him down. The priest no sooner felt two hands on him than he let out an earsplitting scream and fled.
— Apr 25, 2026 08:55AM
Seduced, Swindled & Trapped in a Tomb
“What are you afraid of? Do you think he's going to eat you? The dead don't eat people. I'll go inside there myself." Having said this, a priest was ready to enter the tomb. Andreuccio stood up and grabbed the priest by one of his legs, pulling him down. The priest no sooner felt two hands on him than he let out an earsplitting scream and fled.
Murray
is 16% done
Day 2, Story 4
From Riches To Rags
The ship on which Landolfo was sailing was taken by the winds and hurled onto the shoals and smashed to bits like a piece of glass shattered against a wall. The sea was strewn with chests and planks and the miserable wretches who had been on board grabbed onto anything. Among those wretches was Landolfo, who had called on death repeatedly, preferring to die than return home poor.
— Apr 23, 2026 09:03AM
From Riches To Rags
The ship on which Landolfo was sailing was taken by the winds and hurled onto the shoals and smashed to bits like a piece of glass shattered against a wall. The sea was strewn with chests and planks and the miserable wretches who had been on board grabbed onto anything. Among those wretches was Landolfo, who had called on death repeatedly, preferring to die than return home poor.
Murray
is 15% done
Day 2, Story 3
The Abbot’s Secret
The Abbot realized what Alessandro was thinking about his amorous advances. Removjng his shirt, he placed Alessandro’s hand on his chest - “Stop thinking like that. If you feel around here, you'll discover what it is I've been hiding."
Alessandro placed his hand on the Abbot’s chest and discovered that the Abbot was a woman.
He immediately embraced her and tried a kiss.
— Apr 22, 2026 12:49PM
The Abbot’s Secret
The Abbot realized what Alessandro was thinking about his amorous advances. Removjng his shirt, he placed Alessandro’s hand on his chest - “Stop thinking like that. If you feel around here, you'll discover what it is I've been hiding."
Alessandro placed his hand on the Abbot’s chest and discovered that the Abbot was a woman.
He immediately embraced her and tried a kiss.
Murray
is 14% done
Day 2, Story 2
The Carnal Blessings of St Julian
It was almost night and the spot they had reached was out of the way, so the three of them assaulted Rinaldo and robbed him, leaving him on foot with nothing but his shirt. Riding off, they said: "Now go and see if your Saint Julian will give you good lodging tonight; our saint is certainly going to provide them for us." And crossing the river, away they went.
— Apr 21, 2026 08:28AM
The Carnal Blessings of St Julian
It was almost night and the spot they had reached was out of the way, so the three of them assaulted Rinaldo and robbed him, leaving him on foot with nothing but his shirt. Riding off, they said: "Now go and see if your Saint Julian will give you good lodging tonight; our saint is certainly going to provide them for us." And crossing the river, away they went.
Murray
is 14% done
Day 2, Story 1
A man pretends to be healed by touching the body of a dead saint
"Seize the traitor, this guy who mocks God and the Saints. He wasn't a cripple; he just came here disguised as one to make fun of us and our saint."
And so saying, they grabbed him and dragged him down from where he was standing. Holding him by the hair, they tore all the clothes off his back and started punching and kicking him.
— Apr 20, 2026 12:12PM
A man pretends to be healed by touching the body of a dead saint
"Seize the traitor, this guy who mocks God and the Saints. He wasn't a cripple; he just came here disguised as one to make fun of us and our saint."
And so saying, they grabbed him and dragged him down from where he was standing. Holding him by the hair, they tore all the clothes off his back and started punching and kicking him.
Murray
is 14% done
Day 10, Conclusion
Buona notte ✨✨
They all cheerfully joined together in singing. When they were done, they did a few little dances and then, a portion of the short night having already passed, the Queen was pleased to proclaim that the end of the first day had been reached. Having called for torches to be lit, she ordered them all to go to bed, and after returning to their rooms, that is what they did.
— Apr 17, 2026 10:24AM
Buona notte ✨✨
They all cheerfully joined together in singing. When they were done, they did a few little dances and then, a portion of the short night having already passed, the Queen was pleased to proclaim that the end of the first day had been reached. Having called for torches to be lit, she ordered them all to go to bed, and after returning to their rooms, that is what they did.
Murray
is 13% done
Day 1, Story 10
An Old Man in Love 💕
At 70, Alberto was attracted to a beautiful widow and just like a young man, felt his breast burn with fire and was unable to get much sleep that night. He began spending time around the lady's house, on foot or on horseback. She laughed with her friends to see a man of such great age and wisdom ensnared by love, thinking it could only blaze in the hearts of the young.
— Apr 17, 2026 10:06AM
An Old Man in Love 💕
At 70, Alberto was attracted to a beautiful widow and just like a young man, felt his breast burn with fire and was unable to get much sleep that night. He began spending time around the lady's house, on foot or on horseback. She laughed with her friends to see a man of such great age and wisdom ensnared by love, thinking it could only blaze in the hearts of the young.
Murray
is 13% done
Day 1, Story 9
Courage
A noble lady from Gascony went on a pilgrimage and having arrived in Cyprus on her return journey, was raped there by a band of ruffians. Grieving inconsolably, she decided to seek redress from the King. She was told that her efforts would be wasted - he was so faint-hearted he not only permitted the wrongs done to others to go unpunished, but also allowed countless wrongs to be done to him.
— Apr 16, 2026 10:38AM
Courage
A noble lady from Gascony went on a pilgrimage and having arrived in Cyprus on her return journey, was raped there by a band of ruffians. Grieving inconsolably, she decided to seek redress from the King. She was told that her efforts would be wasted - he was so faint-hearted he not only permitted the wrongs done to others to go unpunished, but also allowed countless wrongs to be done to him.
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Hi Pia. It’s interesting that the more you get into the collection the longer the stories get so that some, like this one, are practically novellas. And the sensual factor grows by leaps and bounds. And the mockery of the clergy. Yes Pia I find it’s getting more interesting 🙌🏼
That's fascinating, Murray! 😊 I think many of us approach older books expecting something solemn and distant, only to discover how mischievous, sensual and recognisably human they can be. The way you describe the stories growing longer and more novel-like makes me even more curious about the collection.
It's funny, because lately both Decameron and Ulysses seem to be following me around wherever I look. I'm still not sure whether to read one or the other this summer.
Pia you have read many esoteric works. Decameron presents no real challenge to your sharp mind other than it has 100 stories. It’s ribald and humorous and intriguing. But Ulysses is akin to Proust. I did not really have trouble with Ulysses but it is dry. Fascinating but dry. Like Proust.
My bio on your favorite artist arrived!
Arabian Nights is another lengthy work akin to Decameron but I’ve only read snippets.
So, for the time being, Decameron might have to wait. Ulysses and Proust both appeal to me (and terrify me at the same time). I hope to make the acquaintance of both one day.Matisse! 💛 I hope you'll come to love him and his world.
To be honest, I know The Thousand and One Nights, even though I haven't actually read it. Still, I suppose short stories just aren't calling to me at the moment.
