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Mithridanes wants to be a wise and generous benefactor. But his neighbour is always better than him. Stars Samuel Barnett.

Terry Jones introduces another tasty Renaissance tale.

Starring Samuel Barnett and Sam Dale as virtuous men in a dirty world.

The 100 stories which make up Giovanni Boccaccio’s humane and comic masterpiece come from all over the world.

This Renaissance work is considered a landmark in the history of literature.

The stories are vividly reset by Boccaccio among the flourishing merchant classes in the cities of 14th-century Italy.

But their witty, satirical, bawdy voice sounds utterly modern, and their subjects - love, fate, sex, religion, morality - are universal.

"Tales of great generosity or magnificence".

Mithridanes wants to be a wise and generous benefactor. Sadly, his neighbour Nathan is always wiser and more generous. How best to deal with this problem? Wisely and generously? Or… not so much?

Mithridanes ..... Samuel Barnett
Nathan ..... Sam Dale
Beggarmaid ..... Bettrys Jones

Adapted by Robin Brooks.

Music arranged and performed by Robert Hollingworth and Paula Chateauneuf

Lyric translations by Silvia Reseghetti

Script consultant: Guyda Armstrong

Produced and directed by Jonquil Panting

First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in December 2014.

17 days left to listen

15 minutes

Last on

Sat 17 Jan 202601:45
BBC Radio 4 Extra

More episodes

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How to Get It Off Your Chest

Next

The Sweetest Young Man in Perugia

See all episodes from Decameron Nights: Ten Italian Indelicacies Remixed from Boccaccio

Credits

WriterGiovanni Boccaccio
AdaptorRobin Brooks
PerformerRobert Hollingworth
PerformerPaula Chateauneuf
ProducerJonquil Panting
DirectorJonquil Panting
MithridanesSamuel Barnett
NathanSam Dale
BeggarmaidBettrys Jones

Broadcasts

  • Fri 5 Dec 201422:45
    BBC Radio 3
  • Fri 16 Jan 202606:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 16 Jan 202611:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 16 Jan 202617:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 17 Jan 202601:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra