How did Italian writers develop short narratives after Boccaccio?

Following the success of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron, Italian writers continued to develop the novella for three centuries, establishing it as a foundational form of short narrative.12

Early successors in the 14th century, such as Franco Sacchetti, moved toward a more unadorned, anecdotal realism focused on ordinary life, while others like Giovanni Fiorentino and Giovanni Sercambi openly imitated Boccaccio’s style. By the 15th century, writers like Masuccio Salernitano produced collections that favored wit and lively tales of lovers and clerics.1

The 16th century saw a surge in popularity, with Matteo Bandello emerging as the most influential figure. Unlike his predecessors, Bandello prioritized dramatic and sensual storytelling over classical stylistic dignity, significantly influencing later European literature. Other writers experimented with diverse approaches:3
* Agnolo Firenzuola: Introduced a graceful, unique style to tales of ribaldry.1
* Anton Francesco Doni: Incorporated irony and surprise.1
* Gianfrancesco Straparola: Experimented with folktales and dialects.1
* Giambattista Basile: Infused fairy-tale stock situations with realistic, human emotions in his Cunto de li cunti (1634), often utilizing a frame structure reminiscent of Boccaccio.1