Marguerite of Navarre's "Heptameron of the Tales of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Vol. 2" is a fascinating collection of stories that offer a glimpse into the lives and struggles of individuals during the Renaissance period. The author's writing style is engaging and the characters are vividly depicted, making it easy for readers to become immersed in their world.

One of the standout features of this book is the way in which it explores complex moral and ethical dilemmas faced by the characters. Each tale presents a different perspective on issues such as love, betrayal, and the pursuit of happiness, challenging readers to consider their own beliefs and values.

While some of the language may be a bit outdated for contemporary readers, the themes and messages in "Heptameron of the Tales of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Vol. 2" remain relevant today. Overall, this book is a compelling read that offers a unique and thought-provoking look at human nature and relationships.

Book Description:
THE HEPTAMERON, 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…