The Decameron is a collection of 100 novellas by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio, written in the 14th century. It is considered a masterpiece of Italian literature and is structured as a frame story, with ten characters telling tales over ten days while sheltering from the Black Death in a villa outside Florence. The stories cover a wide range of themes, including love, wit, practical jokes, and tragedy, making it a rich and diverse work that continues to be studied and enjoyed today.