Broken Heart Syndrome

Tales of love amid war and death.

Can you die of love? Yes. If love is so enormous that your heart can’t contain it. “Broken Heart Syndrome” isn’t a figure of speech—it’s a medical term.

The heroes of this book are happy people. Because they know what love is—love that saves from death and despair, gives life meaning, and provides the strength to endure illnesses, betrayal, and losses. Love for which it isn’t a shame or a fear to die. But it’s still better to live and love—no matter what, despite everything.

“Let’s agree: Boccaccio was a decent fun-lover and a real healer. Not everyone can imagine how, amid plague and death, beautiful girls and young men tell stories about love to each other. Ten days of ten stories—one more improper than the next—what a wonderful cure! Shall we try?”