This collection of stories is a fascinating look into the world of the 16th century, offering a glimpse into the lives and personalities of both the common people and the nobility of the time. The tales are richly detailed and full of intrigue, romance, and betrayal, painting a vivid picture of the social structure and customs of the period.

Marguerite of Navarre's skill as a storyteller is evident in the way she weaves together multiple narratives and characters, creating a complex and engaging tapestry of interconnected stories. The themes of love, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions are explored in depth, making for a thought-provoking read that is sure to captivate readers of historical fiction.

Overall, Heptameron of the Tales of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Vol. 3 is a beautifully written and compelling collection of stories that offers a glimpse into a world long past but still relevant today. Fans of historical fiction and fans of classic literature alike are sure to enjoy this masterful work.

Book Description:
THE HEPTAMERON (here Volume 3 of 5), first published posthumously in 1558, is divided into seven complete days containing 10 stories each, and an eighth day containing only 2 stories. The stories, many of which deal with love and infidelity, resulted in "accusations of looseness" by critics of the day. The author, Margaret of Navarre (also known as Margaret of Angoulême) became an influential woman in the intellectual and cultural circles of the French Renaissance.

From an 1892 essay by the translator George Saintsbury: "In so large a number of stories with so great a variety of subjects, it naturally cannot but be the case that there is a considerable diversity of tone. But that peculiarity at which we have glanced more than once, the combination of voluptuous passion with passionate regret and a mystical devotion, is seldom absent for long together...The question, What is the special virtue of the Heptameron? I have myself little hesitation in answering. There is no book, in prose and of so early a date, which shows to me the characteristic of the time as it influenced the two great literary nations of Europe so distinctly as this book of Margaret of Angoulême…"