Diana's hunt: Caccia di Diana: Boccaccio's first fiction (review)

144 Reviews H o w the highly perilous situation was in the end successfully handled makes a remarkable story, which begins with the vital and intelligent contributions of Pandulf, the papal legate, and of William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, who was regent during thefirstdifficult years until his resignation and death in 1218. It remains a cause of much wonder that the kingdom survived the warfare, the opposed ambitions of the magnates, French and English, the substantial changes of control at the top, and the threat of anarchy which was only just avoided. Self-interest played its usual part, as is clear enough from the author's account. Nevertheless the so-called triumvirate of Hubert de Burgh, Pandulf and Peter, bishop of Winchester, established in 1219, followed in 1221 by Hubert's assumption of government as justiciar, with the able co-operation of Stephen Langton, did save the day. But when the royal power was re-asserted i t was a power which acknowledged that 'monarchy was subject to the law'. Here the new grants in 1225 of Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest, described appropriately as a 'landmark', were crucial. The king made his concessions, but received a quidpro quo in the form of a tax of one-fifteenth on movables. The author has displayed much skill in handling the massive quantity of dates, events and actors upon the stage. That there is at times some repetition is no bad thing. It is in fact a positive advantage to be reminded of important details in such a large canvas where the reader could so easily have been overwhelmed. And the author's judgments are well debated and clearly presented. Only a few matters call for conection. The author occasionally has trouble with spelling. Thus p. 87 offers 'halfs', p. 306 (and elsewhere) has 'disseized', the bishop of Salisbury appears as both Richard te Poore and Richard le Poure (pp. xvi, 323, 390, 467). Die Gesetz (p. 286, for Die Gesetze) is a misprint. Pages vi and vii need to have their contents reversed. The false Latin plural Adventi (p. 110 twice, p. 112 twice, and p. 163) should be amended to Adventus. 'Pressurize' (p. 197 and p. 241), meaning to 'apply pressure to' seems more appropriate to the tabloids. There is an excellent table of contents, helpful lists of principal dates and of principal characters, some maps and genealogies, and a very full bibliography and index. The author's projected full biography of Henry III should be worth waiting for. L. J. Downer Canberra Cassell, Anthony K. & Victoria Kirkham, eds and trans, Diana's hunt: Caccia di Diana: Boccaccio's first fiction, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991; cloth; pp. xvi, 255; 9 illustrations; R.R.P. US$29.95. Reviews 145 The Caccia di Diana is considered to be Boccaccio's earliest literary work. It consists of 18 cantos of terza rima. Written during his sojourn in Naples when he was about 20, it tells the story of a fictional hunt by a group of young Neapolitan ladies. Structurally, it is a conjunction of two lists, one of ladies, the other of animals and the methods employed to catch them. A messenger of the goddess Diana names and assembles 33 women, many of them historically identifiable. The last called is a Fair Lady whose name is not given to us. Under the direction of Diana but with some guidance from the Fair Lady, they form bands and, with their weapons, scour the countryside from top to bottom, killing every wdd animal they can find. Birds, foxes, deer, rabbits, an elephant, bears, porcupine and fowl fall to them. A bull is captured and its heart ripped out. One lady wrings the head off an ostrich with her bare hands. They are joined by another party of 25 maids, who continue the sport. After dawdling over the details of the kill, there is an abrupt conclusion. At midday, Diana calls the tired ladies back to a cool meadow, where they come dragging their kill, and invites them to sacrifice the lot in her own honour. Led by the Fair Lady, the women rebel,tellingDiana that then breasts and spirits...