Withhisnovels,shortstories,andplays,GiovanniVerga(1840-1922)achievedrenownintheItalianverismo(realist)schoolofwriting.Thisoutstandingselectionof12shortstories--mostfromtheSicilianwriter’sVitadeicampi(RuralLife)andNovellerusticane(RusticStories)--atteststohisstorytellingskills.Selectionsinclude“Nedda,“ashortstorythatinitiatedVerga’snaturalisticdepictionsofSicilianpeasantlife;themuch-celebrated“CavalleriaRusticana“(RusticChivalry),ataleofflirtation,jealousy,andadeadlyduel;and“L’amantediGramigna“(Gramigna’sMistress),afascinatingpsychologicalstudy.Thecollectionalsofeatures“Reverie,““JelitheHerdsman,““NastyRedhead,““TheShe-Wolf,““PestilentialAir,““Possessions,““TheHistoryofSt.Joseph’sDonkey,““DarkBread,“and“Liberty.“Forthisdual-languagebook,theeditorhasprovidedexcellentnewEnglishtranslationsonpagesfacingtheoriginalItaliantext,aswellasaninformativeIntroductionandnotes.
