Sicilian Stories

With his novels, short stories, and plays, Giovanni Verga (1840–1922) achieved renown in the Italian verismo (realist) school of writing. This outstanding selection of 12 short stories — most from the Sicilian writer's Vita dei campi (Rural Life) and Novelle rusticane (Rustic Stories) — attests to his storytelling skills.
Selections include \"Nedda,\" a short story that initiated Verga's naturalistic depictions of Sicilian peasant life; the much-celebrated \"Cavalleria Rusticana\" (Rustic Chivalry), a tale of flirtation, jealousy, and a deadly duel; and \"L'amante di Gramigna\" (Gramigna's Mistress), a fascinating psychological study. The collection also features \"Reverie,\" \"Jeli the Herdsman,\" \"Nasty Redhead,\" \"The She-Wolf,\" \"Pestilential Air,\" \"Possessions,\" \"The History of St. Joseph's Donkey,\" \"Dark Bread,\" and \"Liberty.\"
For this dual-language book, the editor has provided excellent new English translations on pages facing the original Italian text, as well as an informative Introduction and notes.