"Popular among readers of early printed fiction was the story of a merchant's wife who transformed the misfortune of exile into an opportunity for adventure. Using Boccaccio's rendering as a backdrop, this study of four chapbook versions uncovers links between the themes of the story - fortune, merchant ethics, and women's roles - and the concerns of early modern city dwellers. The author also focuses on the experimental quality of narrative prose in the early printing years."--BOOK JACKET.