The Decameron.: Or, Ten Days of Entertainment, of Boccaccio: Translated from the Italian.

London: R. Priestley and W. Clarke,, 1820. A smartly bound second Dubois edition of Boccaccio's classic work. This revised text by Edward Dubois (1774-1850), first published in 1804, uses John Balguy's canonical 1741 translation and represents a landmark in the development of the English translations of Boccaccio's work. Dubois's revised text "generates multiple narratives of translation and transmission in and of itself: the editor seeks to advertise textual improvements to the translation, whilst also aiming to institutionalise Boccaccio's writing within the canons of English literature" (Armstrong, p. 236). Balguy (1708-1767) was an English physician, publishing a number of medical essays and this anonymous translation of The Decameron. His translation is credited with stabilising the core of the English text "sufficiently for editorial energies to be directed elsewhere" (Armstrong, p. 232). Octavo (209 x 131 mm). Early 20th century half calf, spine in compartments decorated with Florentine fleur-de-lis motif, black calf spine label, raised bands, brown cloth sides, marbling to endpapers and edges. Frontispiece portrait of Boccaccio engraved by R. W. Sivier. Extremities rubbed, couple of marks to sides, offsetting to first few leaves, marbled edges running slightly to final few leaves, a very good copy. Guyda Armstrong, The English Boccaccio, 2013.