Ženski dekameron
The Feminine Decameron is a novel inspired by the structures of Boccaccio's "Decameron", set in contemporary Soviet reality. The action takes place in a maternity hospital in Leningrad (present-day Saint Petersburg) during the 1980s.
Ten women of different ages, social classes, and life stories find themselves together in hospital isolation due to a suspected infectious disease. To pass the time and overcome their fear, they decide to tell each other stories – one story each per day.
Their confessions reveal the problems of Soviet society at the time: love, marriage, betrayal, motherhood, loss, prostitution, religious quest, and the struggle for personal freedom. Each story reflects a woman’s struggle for identity and dignity within a system that often denies individuality and emotional needs.
The characters are diverse – from students and housewives to businesswomen and artists – and through their destinies Voznesenskaya explores universal themes of female strength, suffering, and hope. Although faced with difficulties, the heroines demonstrate resilience, solidarity, and faith in a better tomorrow.
The novel is written in a simple yet expressive style, combining a realistic depiction of everyday life with optimism and compassion. "The Women's Decameron" is not just a collection of stories about women, but also a testimony to time, society, and the strength of the female soul.
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