The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 1 (of 5)

by Queen Marguerite

"The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 1 (of 5)" by Marguerite de Navarre is a collection of short stories written in French and published posthumously in 1558. Inspired by Boccaccio's Decameron, this frame narrative follows stranded travelers who pass time by sharing tales while awaiting a bridge's completion. The stories explore love, lust, infidelity, and sexual intrigue, often featuring dramatic ironies and moral complexities. Originally intended to contain one hundred stories across ten days, the collection remained unfinished at Marguerite's death, ending partway through the eighth day.