Synopses & Reviews
This outstanding selection of 12 short stories from the Italian verismo (realist) school features tales from the author's Vita dei campi (Rural Life) and Novelle rusticane (Rustic Stories). Selections include the celebrated "Cavalleria Rusticana" (Rustic Chivalry), "Nedda," "L'amante di Gramigna" (Gramigna's Mistress), "Reverie," "Jeli the Herdsman," "Nasty Redhead," and 6 others.
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
Stanley Appelbaum served for decades as Dover's Editor in Chief until his retirement in 1996. He continues to work as a selector, compiler, editor, and translator of literature in a remarkable range of languages that includes Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Russian.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Nedda / Nedda
From Vita dei campi (Rural Life)
Fantasticheria / Reverie
Jeli il pastore / Jeli the Herdsman
Rosso Malpelo / Nasty Redhead
Cavalleria rusticana / Rustic Chivalry
La Lupa / The She-wolf
L'amante di Gramigna / Gramigna's Mistress
From Novelle rusticane (Rustic Stories)
Malaria / Pestilential Air
La roba / Possessions
Storia dell' asino di S. Giuseppe / The History of St. Joseph's Donkey
Pane nero / Dark Bread
Libertà / Liberty