The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre A Linked Index to the Project Gutenberg Edition

"The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre" by Marguerite is a collection of short stories written during the early 16th century. This literary work unfolds in a frame narrative style, mirroring Boccaccio's "Decameron," and it encompasses themes of love, fidelity, and morality set against the backdrop of the societal norms of its time. Through its vibrant tales, the book explores human emotions and relationships in a manner that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The Heptameron is structured around a series of tales told by a group of ten characters who are trapped in a secluded place due to a flood. Each story delves into the complexities of love, often highlighting the consequences of infidelity and deception. The characters range from noblemen and women to commoners, presenting a rich tapestry of perspectives on romantic entanglements. The stories are filled with intrigue, humor, and moral lessons, as the storytellers reflect on their personal experiences and the follies that they witness in others. Despite being set in the past, the themes resonate with contemporary readers, making it a timeless piece that delves into the human psyche. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Marguerite de Navarre, also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was a princess of France, Duchess of Alençon and Berry, and Queen of Navarre by her second marriage to King Henry II of Navarre. Her brother became King of France, as Francis I, and the two siblings were responsible for the celebrated intellectual and cultural court and salons of their day in France. Marguerite is the ancestress of the Bourbon kings of France, being the mother of Jeanne d'Albret, whose son, Henry of Navarre, succeeded as Henry IV of France, the first Bourbon king. As an author and a patron of humanists and reformers, she was an outstanding figure of the French Renaissance. Samuel Putnam called her "The First Modern Woman".